Drug benefit chips away at costs

Plan sponsors are rethinking the pharmacy benefit in light of the financial crisis, according to Medco Health Solutions Inc.

According to the 9 Leading Trends in Rx Plan Management, a report based on a nationwide survey of plan sponsors conducted for Medco’s Systemed Group by Haldy McIntosh and Associates, nearly two-thirds of plan sponsors say the economy is causing a shift toward placing greater accountability on members to manage their own health so plan dollars are spent more wisely.

“Across a number of questions, this year’s report indicates a substantial willingness to seek more innovative solutions in order to achieve these goals-from shifting member cost share to embracing innovation and technology,” says Nancy Wybolt, senior manager, marketing, Medco.

The findings in the 9 Trends report reflect the perceptions of 300 pharmacy benefit managers from leading corporations, as well as nonprofit, labor and public sector groups with between 500 and 50,000+ employees.

According to Wybolt, the biggest surprise was in the similarity of responses among a variety payer audiences-employers between 500 and 50,000+, private and public sectors, as well as labor unions-are focused on similar issues and management tools.

“A few examples are genetic testing as a routine part of healthcare, mail-order pharmacy as a means identify gaps in care and drive better adherence to essential drug therapies and the need for an FDA approved bio-similar pathway,” Wybolt says. “This alignment highlights everyone’s desire to provide quality care, but remove waste and cost from the system.”

Wybolt says 80% of organizations surveyed intend to integrate their drug and medical data to help improve health and financial outcomes.