Average member out-of-pocket costs declined and adherence improved in key categories such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol
CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today announced that, in 2017, the company kept drug price growth nearly flat for its pharmacy benefit management (PBM) clients, at a minimal 0.2 percent, despite manufacturer price inflation near 10 percent. Overall, the combination of this nearly flat drug price growth, with low drug utilization growth of 1.7 percent, reduced drug trend for commercial clients to 1.9 percent, the lowest level in five years. Out-of-pocket costs for members also declined, with three out of four members spending less than $100 out-of-pocket for their prescription medications, and nearly 90 percent of members spending less than $300, even as adherence improved to its highest level in seven years. In addition, 42 percent of CVS Health commercial PBM clients spent less on their pharmacy benefit plan in 2017 than they had in 2016. ... |