Impact of DTC Programs on PBMs
Chris O’Dell, SVP of market solutions at Turquoise Health, discusses the impact of DTC programs on prescription drug prices.
Consumers don’t care what a drug’s cost is, they care what it costs them.
According to O’Dell, the impact of DTC programs will be limited in the near term, but may have a positive effect in the long term. The complexity of drug pricing is a major issue, and the fact that list prices are often much higher than what consumers actually pay is a problem.
- DTC programs may help to simplify drug pricing and reduce costs.
- Most consumers do not pay the high list prices for drugs, especially those covered by Medicare or Medicaid.
Author's summary: DTC programs may impact PBMs and drug pricing.