New Frontiers in Hyperkalemia Care: The Role of Managed Care Professionals and Novel Potassium Binders

Program Description

Hyperkalemia can be a potentially life-threatening complication in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure (HF), particularly those receiving renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) or mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs). Even mild potassium elevations are clinically consequential, carrying an increased risk of arrhythmia, sudden cardiac death, prolonged hospital stays, and recurrent emergency department visits. From a health care systems perspective, each recurrence contributes to higher resource utilization. This session will examine the complex pathophysiology of potassium homeostasis and the multifactorial risk of hyperkalemia in CKD and HF, including the therapeutic conflict between maintaining life-prolonging RAASi therapy and mitigating hyperkalemia risk. Presenters will review real-world data on potassium-binding agents, which have been shown to safely reduce serum potassium, enable RAASi optimization, and improve long-term outcomes. Tailored for pharmacists and managed care professionals, the session will focus on practical strategies to identify at-risk patients, guide treatment selection, monitor for recurrence, and navigate formulary and coverage considerations. Participants will also explore how pharmacist-led interventions, adherence support, and policy alignment can reduce hospital utilization, support guideline-concordant therapy, and ultimately lessen the clinical and economic burden of hyperkalemia across the continuum of care.

Target audience: Managed care pharmacists
Type of activity: Application
Release date: April 30, 2026
Expiration date: April 30, 2027
Learner level: Foundational, Intermediate
Time to complete activity: 1.5 hour
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Explain the pathophysiology, high-risk populations, recurrence patterns, and health burden of hyperkalemia in patients with chronic kidney disease and heart failure.
• Compare the mechanisms, efficacy, safety profiles, and real-world impact of potassium binders in both acute and chronic hyperkalemia settings.
• Explore the economic impact and operational barriers associated with hyperkalemia management and how these affect access, adherence, and utilization of newer therapies.

Accreditation

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 1.5 contact hours (0.15 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-26-085-H01-P. The activity is available for CE credit through April 30, 2027

Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit

To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, view the activity in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.

Faculty

Thaddeus McGiness, PharmD, BCPS, has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Victoria Wolf, PharmD, has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff: Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Jason Christidhis, PharmD; Rose Buszka, PharmD, BCPS, CHCP; Susan Pordon; Brianna Winters; and Chloe Taccetta have no financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Any relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.

At least one anonymous peer reviewer was used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewer has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.

Educational Disclaimer

Continuing professional education activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved by the labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

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