Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Kentucky has collaborated with Edgewood, Ky.-based St. Elizabeth Healthcare on an initiative to lower costs of hospital-administered medications, the Cincinnati Business Courier reported Aug. 2.
It is common for hospitals to mark up a drug's cost 200 to 300 percent beyond what they initially pay to have it in stock, Anthem told the publication.
For specialty medications used to treat conditions like cancer and autoimmune disease, St. Elizabeth will limit the price to the cost of the drug plus a small fee to cover storage and handling, the Courier said.
The health system is the first to collaborate with Anthem on the initiative. The payer is working with other health systems on similar efforts, according to the Courier.