Meet the Board: AffirmedRx CEO Greg Baker Unveils Game-Changing Strategy for PBM Industry

As we bring back our "Meet the Board" Series podcast series, Managed Healthcare Executive welcomes our newest Editorial Advisory Board member Greg Baker, CEO of AffirmedRx. In this conversation, Baker and Peter Wehrwein, MHE managing editor, discussed insights from Baker's career journey, particularly his tenure at Walgreens, where he gained insights into operational efficiency and patient care.

Baker highlighted the importance of process orientation and patient-centered care, drawing from his experience as a pharmacist.

Baker

He also dove into his time at Premise Health, highlighting their service-oriented model focused on improving adherence and patient outcomes. He contrasted this with traditional PBMs' profit-driven approaches, expressing concerns about opaque pricing practices and exclusionary formularies.

AffirmedRx, a public benefit corporation, aims to bring transparency to the PBM industry by disclosing all financial terms to clients. Baker discussed their unique approach, which includes a cloud-based system, patient care advocates, and a clinically-driven formulary that prioritizes cost-effectiveness and clinical utility over rebates.

He expressed skepticism about legislative solutions, suggesting that current proposals may not address the root causes of industry issues. AffirmedRx is part of TransparencyRx, a collective advocating for industry reform.

Looking ahead, Baker warned against the proliferation of corporate entities within PBMs, which could further obscure pricing practices and hinder transparency efforts. He underscored the importance of educating stakeholders and advocating for meaningful reform within the industry.