 |
|
Upcoming Events featuring
National CooperativeRx
Health Care Administrators Association
Anaheim, CA
July 10-12, 2013
Learn more
|
|
 |
National CooperativeRx is a not-for-profit coalition founded and owned by plan sponsors to achieve higher value prescription benefits through volume purchasing, clinical solutions, actionable data and unparalleled customer service. For your sales and marketing needs, please contact us at 866-679-9479, extension 223
|
|
|
National CooperativeRx Manages Specialty Drug Spend Better than Industry Average in 2012
According to the recent CVS Caremark Insights report, specialty drugs represent the fastest growing sector of pharmacy spending. In 1990 there were 10 specialty drugs on the market, whereas in 2012 there were nearly 300. - 39 new specialty drugs were approved last year
- 40% of drugs in the pipeline are specialty
The specialty market is expected grow to nearly $120 billion in the next 3 years; specialty could account for 1/3 of total pharmacy spend in the US.
Research and development continue to provide more effective treatments, but often with additional costs. National CooperativeRx is succeeding in helping members better manage their pharmaceutical investments. While specialty drugs represented about 20%* of the industry's pharmacy benefit costs in 2012, the trend for National CooperativeRx members was notably less.
|
|
Specialty Drug Trend
|
% of Specialty Drug Spend
|
Over-all Trend
| |
National CooperativeRx
|
10.5%
|
18.6%
|
-0.9%
| |
CVS Caremark**
|
18.1%
|
19.9%
|
0.1%
| |
Express-Scripts/Medco^
|
18.4%
|
24.5%
|
2.7%
| |
Catamaran^^
|
21.0%
|
20.0%
|
2.6%
|
The National CooperativeRx business model encourages plan sponsor engagement and active management of pharmaceutical investments. The results are self-evident with proven outcomes. In addition to the cooperative's specialty trend, our aggregate 7 year trend is also down -.33%, meaning it costs less each year to insure our participants.
Thank you for being a member of the cooperative. Watch for next week's newsletter where we'll highlight ways to control your group's specialty trend.
**CVS Caremark Insights 2013, 2012 Annual Report
^Express-Scripts/Medco Annual Trend Report
^^Catamaran Annual Report
|
Kaiser Health News. This article asks the question "How will the health law affect premiums for smokers?" The answer in the article is that insurers may increase the normal premium by 50% for people who report that they smoke, unless that person is actively trying to quit. Whether or not they're able to won't matter. (6/13) Full Story
|
HealthDay. BPA is a chemical often used in food packaging, and a government study shows that 92% of Americans have detectable amounts of the chemical in their body. This is concerning because the chemical is similar to estrogen, and may effect the brain and reproductive organs. A new study found "girls aged 9 to 12 who had higher-than-average levels of BPA in their urine were about twice as likely to be obese as those with lower-than-average levels." Scientists continue to look into the chemical. (Goodman, 6/12) Full Story
|
Time. The Supreme Court has determined that naturally-occurring human genes cannot be patented - but synthetically created genes can be. This means that patents held by Myriad Genetics are dismissed. Myriad Genetics had patents on the 2 genes linked to an increased risk of ovarian and breast cancer in women, and the company has a test called BRACAnalysis that looks for these risk factors. Recently, the celebrity Angelina Jolie used this test as a determining factor when she elected to have a precautionary double mastectomy. (Holland, 6/13) Full Story
|
Drug Channels. California's Department of Health Care Services has decided that it will use neither the Average Wholesale Price (AWP) benchmark nor an Average Acquisition Cost (AAC) benchmark. Instead, Medi-Cal pharmacy reimbursement will be based on the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) data now being collected and published by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). (Fein, 5/13) Full Story
|
Reuters. "A U.S. district court judge on Wednesday approved a U.S. Food and Drug Administration plan to allow unrestricted sales of Plan B One-Step, a one-pill version of the emergency contraception drug." (Freifeld, Vaughan, 6/12) Full Story
|
Kaiser Health News. Starting next year, the Affordable Care Act will cap how much people will be required to pay out of pocket for co-pays and deductibles. If an organization uses separate companies for medical and pharmaceutical benefits, participants may face separate caps, or no cap at all on their prescription medication. For details, click into the article. (Andrews, 6/11) Full Story
|
|
 |
|
