Jun 16, 2025 | Drug costs, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM), Prescription, Rx Costs
A recent Statista article examines the disparity in prescription drug spending across countries. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) ranks the United States highest in average spending, at $1,218 per resident – over $200 more than...
May 30, 2025 | Announcements, Compliance, Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA), Pharmacy, Regulatory
As you’ll recall, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA) requires all health plans to file a pharmacy data report annually to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Each year, the Prescription Drug Data Collection reporting (RxDC)...
May 5, 2025 | Legislative, News, Pharmacy, Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM), State legislation
On April 16, Arkansas became the first state to ban pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from acquiring an interest in – or otherwise directly or indirectly holding a permit for the retail sale of – prescription drugs, including mail-order...
Mar 11, 2025 | Drug costs, GLP-1s, Health care costs, Ozempic, Pharmacy, Rx Costs, Wegovy, Weight loss, Weight loss drugs, Zepbound
The end of shortages on Ozempic, Wegovy, and other semaglutide injections could place added pressure on self-funded health plans to cover the costs of the high-priced medications. On February 21, the FDA confirmed that the supply of GLP-1 drugs used to treat obesity...
Feb 11, 2025 | Benefits Advisory Conference, Benefits management, Caroline Fraker, Compliance, Forensic claims review, MedBen University, No Surprises Act (NSA), Pharmacy, Stop-Loss, Wellness
Over 70 guests from seven states attended the MedBen 2025 Benefits Advisory Conference on January 30. Featuring some of the most respected names in the industry, this invitation-only event provided brokers with an extensive look at the state of benefits...
Oct 28, 2024 | Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Pharmacy, Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM), Rebates, Spread Pricing
KFF Health News reports on the disparity between pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) payments to large pharmacy chains compared to small drugstores: “[An American Pharmacy Cooperative] analysis early this year showed chains were paid well beyond the family business...