The Rebate Effect: ‘Traditional’ Brand Costs Decline 6.5% In Commercial Plans

Lower net costs held overall spending on retail prescription drugs in employer-sponsored insurance to an increase of just 0.4% in 2018, according to the latest Express Scripts Drug Trend Report.

Unit costs for traditional branded drugs covered by employer-sponsored insurance declined 6.5% in 2018 from the year before, despite a 7.3% rise in list prices, Express Scripts said in its latest Drug Trend Report, released Feb. 6.

The decrease was produced by manufacturer price concessions negotiated by the pharmacy benefit manager. Net costs for diabetes drugs, in...

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