The three PBMs accounted for about 60 percent of pro forma U.S. retail mail, long-term care and specialty equivalent prescription claims in 2019.
Changes in nonspecialty drug spending:
CVS Health: -4.9 percent
Express Scripts: -5 percent
Prime Therapeutics: -0.8 percent
This is the third consecutive year that spending growth in nonspecialty drugs declined by mid-single digits, according to pharmacy news site Drug Channels. The decline can be attributed to deeper commercial rebates on brand-name drugs, deflation in generics and a small increase in generic dispensing rates.
Changes in specialty drug spending:
CVS Health: +9.3 percent
Express Scripts: +11.6 percent
Prime Therapeutics: +14.1 percent
A majority of specialty drug-spending growth can be attributed to the growth in the number of people being treated and the number of prescriptions being dispensed, Drug Channels reported.
Overall change in drug spending:
CVS Health: +1.4 percent
Express Scripts: +2.3 percent
Prime Therapeutics: +4.7 percent
Read the full report here.
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