How PBM Mail-Service Pharmacies Help Patients

Host JC Scott speaks with Claire Winiarek, the VP for Policy of PCMA, about the increased use of mail delivery for prescriptions. Winiarek discusses the value of mail service for prescriptions both relative to the pandemic and beyond it.

PBM Mail Service Increases During the Pandemic: The top-line trend is increased mail delivery by 20 percent through July, year on year. At the tail end of the first quarter, early refills drove an increase, as well as at the end of the second quarter as people reached the end of their 90-day prescriptions.

PBM Response to Increasing Demand for Home Delivery: Part of the response was working with pharmacies to provide home delivery as well as mail delivery and to make consumers aware of the service. In addition, educating consumers about 90-day refills and arranging auto-ship through the mail has been an essential contribution to slowing the spread of the virus by making it possible for people to stay home.

PBMs and Pharmacies Working Together: PBMs and pharmacies worked together early in the pandemic to develop practical, common sense alternatives to delivery signature requirements.

PBMs and Delivery Challenges: Some PBMs are trying alternative carriers or changing when prescriptions are shipped to allow for potential delays. They’re also allowing for early refills and transition fills at local pharmacies. Behind the scenes, there are proprietary systems mapping the transit of prescriptions through the system so that delivery can be continuously fine- tuned. A well-funded Postal Service is critical for the affordability of this option.

Home Delivery Benefits Consumers: Prescription adherence rates improve from 77 percent for pharmacy pick up to 87 percent for mail delivery. This adherence, in turn, drives improvements to other outcomes such as emergency room utilization and rehospitalizations. Dispensation of medication is also safer when performed en masse in a factory setting as opposed to in local pharmacies. Of course, the scale also drives costs down for consumers, as does the convenience itself. Having 24/7 access to prescription counseling through PBMs can be another benefit both in terms of convenience and confidentiality. Data from IQVIA suggest that these increases in home delivery will be here to stay, along with telehealth and tele-pharmacy options.

COVID-19 Test Kits Via PBMs: UnitedHealth Group is beginning to send lower-nose tests that are as effective as the tests developed earlier in the pandemic. CVS is also sending out test kits.

Outlook for a Vaccine: Winiarek leads a stakeholder group with other drug supply chain partners, including pharmacies, manufacturers, grocers, and hospital pharmacists that has been discussing drug shortages and now plans for a COVID-19 vaccine. The discussion has centered around how the supply chain can support a scientific and evidence-based process of evaluation of vaccines. Planning ahead for the fact that supplies of the vaccine will be limited and developing policies for allocation, access, and safety are central to the group’s efforts.

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