2009 Drug Trend Insights - Prime Therapeutics

2008 Trend overviewUnderstand today’s trendsin order to prepare for the future++ We drove traditional book-of-businesstrend to -0.5 percent through strongpartnership with plan sponsors; totaltrend, including Specialty, was just0.9 percent.++ Utilization of traditional drugs, at-0.2 percent in 2008, dropped notablyfrom previous years, reflecting theinfluence of ongoing drug safetyconcerns and the uncertain economy.++ Low drug trend presents a costeffectiveopportunity to improvehealth and reduce total healthcare spend.In 2008, our overall book-of-business trend was two full percentage pointslower than in 2007. And for the first time, the traditional book-of-businesstrend was negative. This marks the sixth year in a row of single-digit trend,and another year of competitive spend management compared to otherleading PBMs (fig 1).Total cost per member per month (PMPM) represents the total amount ofmoney invested in pharmacy spend each month. One of pharmacy benefitmanagement’s key functions is to help plan sponsors contain or reducethese costs.Fig 1 Total Paid PMPM Trend 2004 –2008 1Percentage1210864PrimeIndustry BenchmarkIMS Health Data122004 2005 2006 2007 2008By helping members make wise decisions and encouraging the use of genericalternatives, our pharmacy programs successfully helped to contain drugspend in 2008. As we move through 2009 and beyond, we are continuingto focus on maintaining low drug trend. We are also working consultativelywith plan sponsors to deliver better health at a lower cost.Our pharmacy management tools and clinical expertise, enhanced through seamlesscoordination with our Blues plans, offer a chance to maximize pharmacy savings whileachieving the greatest impact on members’ health and total health care costs.© Prime Therapeutics 2009 Drug Trend Insights15