The Role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers and Skyrocketing Cost of Medications.

Abstract

This article reviews how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) play a role in the delivery of modern healthcare services. A discussion regarding the lack of transparency regarding PBM services, consolidation of the market and vertical integration, as well as a typical flow of payments related to medications is provided. Authors review what higher drug costs are doing to patients, and provide an overview of what is happening to fight these trends.