Power Shifts In Pharmacy Benefit Manager Landscape Impact Pharmaceutical Companies

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 24, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --HealthLeaders-InterStudy, the leading provider of managed care market intelligence, analyzes several streams of proprietary data on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to pull out key trends and the accompanying implications for pharmaceutical companies. PBMs are stepping up their game in 2013developing leaner, discounted pharmacy networks, adding sophistication to clinical programs and applying a host of management strategies on specialty drugs.

Ongoing consolidation in the industry has concentrated power in two big PBMsExpress Scripts and CVS Caremarkwhich now control pharmacy benefits for more than 60 percent of the insured members enrolled in U.S. managed care plans. Express Scripts alone commands nearly half the U.S. commercial market share, but will give up a substantial portion of that market share to UnitedHealth Group's PBM by the end of 2013.

"As midmarket competition heats up, PBMs like Catamaran and Prime Therapeutics become more important to pharmaceutical companies planning a market access strategy," explains Chris Lewis, Senior Market Analyst at HealthLeaders-InterStudy, "and a clear grasp of the implications of what's happening in the industry across the board becomes vital."

HealthLeaders-InterStudy's newly released PBM Landscape Report highlights key strategies of PBMs, assesses important players and the distinctive competencies they bringand anticipates the implications this competitive and consolidating marketplace will have on Pharma. The PBM Landscape Report is part of the PBM Profiles section of the Pharmacy Benefit Evaluator.

Upcoming Open Webinar! PBMs in 2013: Concentrated Power, Midmarket Competition and Tighter Control May 23, 2013 | 2pm Eastern | 11am Pacific Senior Market Analyst Chris Lewis of HealthLeaders-InterStudy, author of the PBM Profiles section of the Pharmacy Benefit Evaluator, shares relevant, actionable insight from the PBM Landscape Report in an upcoming webinar. For more information and to register, please click here.

About Pharmacy Benefit Evaluator

With comprehensive analysis of national and local health plans' pharmacy benefit structure and spending, Pharmacy Benefit Evaluator provides the insights needed to identify plans and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that offer the greatest return for partnering. PBM Profiles provide data on covered lives and plan-PBM affiliation. An interactive interface illustrates state-by-state coverage including key health plan relationships and where the PBM manages the formulary.

About HealthLeaders-InterStudy

HealthLeaders-InterStudy, a Decision Resources Group company, is the authoritative source for managed care data, analysis, and news. HealthLeaders-InterStudy is part of the Market Access Business Unit at Decision Resources Group which also includes Abacus International, Fingertip Formulary, Pinsonault, and PharmaStrat. Find out more at http://www.hl-isy.com.

About Decision Resources Group

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Power Shifts In Pharmacy Benefit Manager Landscape Impact Pharmaceutical Companies