Pharmacy and consumer-directed accounts.

Abstract

Employers must make informed design andimplementation choices in order for consumer-directed accounts to optimize the performance of pharmacy benefit strategies. Strategies must contemplate the prevalence of consumer-directed accounts, emerging technologies that support them and the potential impact on employee choices. Employers that align these factors may deliver pharmacy benefits at a lower cost and have an advantage over competitors. In pursuing this end, employers also may play a significant role in making health care affordable to as many Americans as possible.