Follow Us
© 2026 Arizent. All rights reserved.
A battle is brewing to influence public opinion over the drivers of rising prescription drug benefit costs, cost-containment strategies and the path to meaningful health care reforms.
On one side of this spirited debate to win the hearts and minds of HR and benefit practitioners, among other key stakeholders, is the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) in Alexandria, Va., which claims that pharmacy benefit managers drive up health insurance costs and restrict patient choice.
Bruce Shutan is an Employee Benefit News contributing writer based in Portland, Oregon.
For reprint and licensing requests for this article, click here.
The legislation calls on Congress to lower prescription drug costs, shift subsidies directly to consumers, and enforce strict price transparency.
Employers are under pressure to keep benefits competitive while controlling costs, driving new scrutiny of PBMs, hospital prices and GLP-1 coverage for 2027.
Rising use of the weight-loss drug is fueling the fastest health plan cost growth in a decade and a half, forcing employers to rethink coverage strategies and cost management.
A look at what the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Program covers, what it doesn't, and what plan sponsors need to know.
A look at traditional PBMs and pass-through models, potential savings areas, developments and partnering with the right consultant.
