I have been around community pharmacies for a number of years, the first time I worked in a community pharmacy was in the fall of 1966 – as a pharmacy student – while I was attending Butler U in Indianapolis. This was before there was a PBM industry and there was no DEA!
Back in the 1960’s, wholesale prices of Rx items were pretty much static. The PBM industry came to be in 1970 and by the end of the 1970’s, wholesale prices on Rx meds started increasing dramatically, and sometimes multiple times a year.
I have seen reports that for a pharma to have one of their meds on the PBM approved formulary, they will be required to pay up to 75% rebate/kickback/discount back to the PBM for every Rx filled and billed to the PBM.
Here is an example of where all the $$$ the pt pays at the pharmacy register.
Filed under: General Problems
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