As CVS Caremark celebrates the first anniversary of the merger that brought together retail pharmacy giant CVS Corp. and pharmacy benefit manager Caremark Rx, others in the pharmacy benefits industry are taking time to reflect on the significan

Over-the-counter and new "behind-the-counter" drugs give employers more options for drug benefit plans

Mar 10th, 2008

As the FDA adds new drugs to the over-the-counter class, plan sponsors need to weigh their coverage options.Traditionally, employer-provided prescription drug coverage focused on just that – prescription drugs. But as many common prescription d

Prescription drug plan sponsors get help navigating uncertain times in drug pricing

Jan 9th, 2008

Without a viable alternative to the average wholesale price benchmark, how should plan sponsors protect themselves?After more than a year since major lawsuits cast a dark shadow over the use of average wholesale price as a benchmark for prescri

Managing drug spend in 2007

Apr 11th, 2007

From Wal-Mart to Washington, a wide range of factors will affect prescription drug coverage in the year ahead. The major pharmacy-benefit news stories from 2006 lay foundation for pharmacy benefits planning for '07 and '08.In 2006 we saw the co

As the specialty pharmacy market grows, cost becomes a bigger issue

Mar 15th, 2007

Specialty pharmaceuticals – injectable drugs used to treat chronic and rare diseases such as multiple sclerosis, various forms of cancer, Alzheimer’s and more – currently make up a $40 billion market, and that market size is expected to increas

Burchfield Group’s pharmacy benefit consultants weigh in on the side of generic drugs

Mar 1st, 2007

Everyone knows that generic drugs are a good thing for prescription drug plan sponsors and for consumers, but generics still face several “barriers to acceptance” that prevent them from being used more often, according to Brian Bullock, preside

Welcome to the Pharmacy Benefits Podcast!

Jan 30th, 2007

Welcome to the first episode of the Pharmacy Benefits Podcast! This podcast arms employers and pharmacy-benefit providers with information they need to take better control and reduce corporate spending on pharmacy benefits. It deals with the pr

Consumer-driven health plans

Dec 12th, 2006

Brian Bullock and Rob Shelley of The Burchfield Group discuss CDHP drug plans for employers and employees. CDHPs, or high-deductible plans, are a tactic by which plan sponsors hope to encourage health care consumers to make smarter purchasing d

Medicare Part D: Employers' concerns and future plans

Dec 3rd, 2006

Much of the news coverage about Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage deals with eligible senior citizens not being able to get the drugs or the coverage they need. But beyond those more visible problems, according to Brian Bullock, presid

We love audits: Keeping an eye on PBMs

Dec 3rd, 2006

The word “audit” sends shivers down peoples’ spines. It evokes fears of the IRS, more taxes and possibly even repossession. But in the world of pharmacy benefits, audits are an entirely different issue, according to Brian Bullock, president of

Consumerism and its impact on pharmacy benefits

Nov 28th, 2006

In today's installment of the Pharmacy Benefits Podcast, Brian Bullock and Rob Shelley of The Burchfield Group discuss consumerism, the trend in today's health care realm that is putting more choice and more responsibility in the hands of consu

Discussing transparency in pharmacy benefits

Nov 28th, 2006

In this installment of the Pharmacy Benefits Podcast, Brian Bullock and Rob Shelley of The Burchfield Group discuss the issue of transparency in the world of pharmacy benefits management.What is driving the desire for transparency? What is the

Burchfield Group's Brian Bullock speaks out on prescription-drug average wholesale price issue

Oct 31st, 2006

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal explained the impact of the settlement of a class-action lawsuit against First DataBank, the primary publisher of prescription-drug average wholesale prices.Published AWP price points are used by priv

The real deal: Mail-order vs. retail

Jun 20th, 2006

For years, mail service for prescription drugs has been pitched as a way for employers to save money by providing deeper discounts, central control, the ability to switch to less expensive and equally effective drugs, and a convenience to membe

Medicare Part D guidance and compliance for managed-care organizations

May 9th, 2006

As senior citizens continue to learn and understand their new Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage, so do the drug plan providers who administer these benefits. The latest hurdle for prescription drug plan providers comes in the form of t

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