High costs ahead: Predictive modeling warns of upcoming trends

With the drug spend for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) previously at less than 10% of total medical costs, the Omaha-based insurer didn't put too much energy into controlling costs. But when the 1990s started driving drug costs skyward-drug spend for the Blues plan is 15%, or $23 million per month today-BCBSNE looked for solutions to keep costs at bay.