Citizen Rx to address PBM consolidation concerns

Citizens Rx announced Wednesday that industry pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) offerings and similar options are being consolidated even though recent acquisitions and mergers have many employer groups and clients concerned that PBMs are not seeking out what is best for the consumer. 

"Managed Care plans and employer groups are facing unprecedented challenges in their efforts to control rising pharmacy costs — particularly the emergence of high-cost hepatitis C and other specialty drugs," Citizens Rx's founder and Chief Executive Officer John Burns said. "Unlike our competitors, Citizens Rx offers our clients the ability to utilize individual PBM services to surgically target specific pain points within their pharmacy spend – be it our pharmacy network, claims processing platform, mail and specialty pharmacy facilities, or PharmAssist — our clinical mobile application."

Major concerns rise as care plans and retail pharmacies purchase stock in PBMs. With rising costs for medication, specifically for specialty treatments for conditions like hepatitis C and cancer, it becomes an important process to tailor pharmacy benefit plans that are tailored to the individual clients rather than a select few plans. 

According to Citizens Rx, PBMs have been historically reluctant to engage in this area . 

"Better patient management equals improved outcomes and adherence, which ultimately controls and reduces pharmacy and medical costs," Citizens Rx Mail and Specialty Pharmacy Operations President Bill Bailey said.