Posted by Michael Wonder on 06 Feb 2017
Drug prices rose 11% last year, providing fuel for both sides of price debate
6 February 2017 - Drug prices, on their face, rose by about 11% last year, according to Express Scripts, the largest U.S. pharmacy benefits manager.
But costs for employers increased just 2.5% across all prescription drugs, Express Scripts said in its new Drug Trend Report, released Monday.
The St. Louis-based PBM, which negotiates drug prices on behalf of insurers and employers, hailed the difference in figures as evidence that it saves the system money.
"In a year where the issue of high drug prices was No. 1 on the list of payer and policymaker concerns, the data show that our solutions protected our clients and patients," Dr. Glen Stettin, chief innovation officer at Express Scripts, said in a statement.
