PBM Archives - Word on Benefits

Open pharmacy pill containers on a pile of 20 dollar bills.

What the Executive Order Increasing PBM Fee Transparency Means for Employers

Amanda Wilke, CEBS

29 May 202529 May 2025

On April 15, 2025, President Trump signed the executive order (EO) “Lowering Drug Prices by Once Again Putting Americans First,” which includes specific actions to be taken by federal agencies to reduce prescription drug costs, improve transparency and increase competition in the […]

Employee Benefits Health Care Prescription Drugs

Prescription Drug Plans: Spread Pricing Explainer

Jenny Gartman, CEBS

07 Mar 202407 Mar 2024

Lawmakers, employers, consumer groups and other stakeholders have called for more transparency from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Lack of transparency enables PBMs to engage in the practice of spread pricing where PBMs charge health plans more than they pay pharmacies for the […]

Employee Benefits Prescription Drugs

Seven Tips for Adding Prescription Drug Coverage Limits

Chris Vogel, CEBS

04 Jan 2017

You know the expression “Strike while the iron is hot”? For plan sponsors that have contemplated imposing limits on prescription drug coverage but have worried about upsetting plan participants, the timing just may be right. Participants almost couldn’t miss recent news of […]

Employee Benefits Health Care

5 Cost-Control Secrets for Health Plan Contracts

Anne Patterson

04 Oct 201613 Jan 2017

When looking at total benefit dollars spent, how do fees paid to vendors serving your health benefit plan stack up? These fees probably represent a significant portion of your budget, so understanding how fees are calculated and the value they provide to […]