Recently, a KFF article shed light on the results of their 2024 Employer Health Benefits Survey. The survey of 2,142 companies revealed a lack of transparency in understanding how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) handle rebates. According to the survey, only a small percentage of employers knew how much of the negotiated rebates actually returned as savings to their companies. This lack of clarity and the complex layers involved in managing drug benefits led to confusion among employers, as highlighted by Gary Claxton, senior vice president at KFF.
These findings raise the question: Do PBMs ultimately lead to higher or lower pharmacy costs? The complexity of the system makes it difficult for employers to ascertain the true impact of PBMs on their drug benefits.
