
The Rx Research Corner is a blog written by the Research Team at PCMA. This blog will take a closer look at complex data and new research findings. Topics cover the PBM and prescription drug space and range from pricing, to policies, and to patient issues such as access and equity.

Inclusion vs. Exclusion from the IRA Medicare Direct Negotiation Drug List: When “Small” Doesn’t Really Mean Small
A data-driven look at the Medicare Part B and Part D drugs that might qualify for the “small biotech” exemption from drug price negotiation in the Inflation Reduction Act.

The PBM Marketplace is More Competitive, Not Less
In just two years, six new pharmacy benefit companies entered the marketplace, an almost nine percent increase. Today there are 73 full-service PBMs in operation. This demonstrates that the marketplace is not only diverse but becoming more competitive over time.

Pharmacy Benefit Companies 101: A Primer
Given all the recent attention around pharmacy benefit companies and prescription drug costs, I thought it would be helpful to create a primer of what exactly a pharmacy benefit company is and does.

The Independent Pharmacy Marketplace is Still Stable
Recent small fluctuations year-to-year in the number of independent pharmacies has not dramatically shifted the independent pharmacy market and continues to foster a stable market.

Setting the Record Straight on Patient Cost Sharing
It seems that some have been tossing around the word fact lately when they really mean opinion. Facts are things that we have real evidence to support, not simply statements we want to be true. PBMs work to provide patients

The Ghosts of Biosimilars: The Past, the Present, and the Future
With a nod to Dickens given that it’s the holidays, I’ve been thinking about biosimilars past, present and future lately. In that holiday spirit, even though the parallels aren’t perfect to the classic holiday story, let’s look at the biosimilar

National Diabetes Month Viewpoint: Pharmacy Benefit Clinical Care Programs Work, This Is My Family’s Story
I have been the Head of the Research Team at PCMA, representing the pharmacy benefit industry, for nearly four years. And while it is part of my job to research and write about the clinical care activities of pharmacy benefit

PBMs Play an Incredibly Important Role in The Drug Supply Chain. How Important? Over $145 Billion Worth Every Year
A recent paper from Dr. Casey Mulligan examines the services that PBMs provide, estimating they create $145 billion in value to society annually. This value translates into a 7:1 return on investment each year.

With PBMs, Asthma Patients Can Breathe with Ease
PCMA is releasing ten years of independent and chain retail pharmacy count data for every state. The number of independent retail pharmacies nationwide increased 8% over the last ten years, and 1.2% over the last five years, suggesting a stable marketplace.

See for Yourself: the Independent Pharmacy Marketplace is Stable
Over the last five years, the marketplace for independent pharmacies has experienced small fluctuations from year-to-year sometimes gaining stores, sometimes losing stores. These recent fluctuations in the overall number of stores have not dramatically shifted the independent pharmacy market.

Generic Drugs Are an American Success Story, Here’s Why
Thanks to PBMs’ efforts to give patients an incentive to use them and pharmacies an incentive to purchase them at the lowest prices, generics are widely available and affordable for hundreds of millions of Americans.

Fun with (Medicare) Stars: Medication Adherence in Beneficiaries with Hypertension
Using data from CMS, we see increases in the average plan contract-level beneficiary adherence to hypertension medication. Gains in adherence translates to real people staying on their medications and having better health outcomes.

Introducing our New Blog Series: Fun with (Medicare) Stars
This blog introduces a new series of blog posts that will look at interesting trends using the CMS’s historical Part D Star Ratings data, focusing on four measures of prescription drug adherence.

CBO Report on Prescription Drug Trends
New report from the Congressional Budget Office highlights the value of PBMs in keeping net drug costs low for payers and patients.

PBM Technology and Expertise Improves Patient Health Outcomes
Pharmacy Benefit Managers reduce prescription drug costs for patients and use innovative technology to help patients get their prescriptions and lead healthier lives.

Orphan Drugs Sound Small but Can Lead to Big Drug Spending
High spending on prescription drugs with both orphan and non-orphan indications suggest potential misuse of Orphan Drug Act designations.

There are More Independent Pharmacies, Just Look at Real, Accurate Data
Using a gold-standard pharmacy dataset from the National Council for Prescription Drug Programs (NCPDP) and a transparent methodology, PCMA produces credible research with a clear conclusion: there are more independent pharmacies now than any time over the last decade.

Mandating Pharmacy Reimbursement Will Increase Prescription Drug Spending
Paying pharmacies more for dispensing medications will raise prescription drug costs without improving value.

Biosimilars Versus Biologics – How About Both?
Biosimilars play an important role in lowering net costs.

The Upside of More Drugs: How Competition Among Brand-Name Drugs Works for Patients
PBMs leverage competition between drugs to create savings for patients.

“Patent Thickets” are Anti-Competitive and Lead to Higher Drug Costs
Patent thickets are a drug manufacturer’s strategy that keeps competitor products off the market and reduces PBMs’ ability to negotiate savings.

Clearing the Air: World Asthma Day
May is Asthma Awareness Month, and today – May 5 – is World Asthma Day. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America is marking the day with the release of their 2021 Asthma Capitals Report.

The Highly Competitive PBM Marketplace
According to a new analysis, there are now 70 PBMs operating in a diverse and competitive marketplace.

Introduction to the PCMA Rx Research Corner
Welcome to the new PCMA research blog.