Payers Expected to Take Larger Role in Influencing Preferred Drug Lists & Formularies

OPEN MINDS Weekly News Wire Strategic Health Care News In the next three years, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and specialty pharmacies anticipate that employer and health plan payers will take an increasing role in influencing preferred drug lists and formularies; products will be selected for their overall value, rather than to maximize rebates. Payers are also expected to integrate medical and pharmacy benefits. A survey of benefit managers at large employers in the United States revealed that for 2008 and forward, employers planned to pursue the following strategies for prescription cost management:  68% said they were somewhat or very likely . . .