But Mind the Legal Dangers Health plans and physicians have every right to hold down the cost of pharmaceuticals, as long as patients aren't harmed. But not everyone agrees on what actions are acceptable. Sometimes you have to spend money to save money. Vials with microchips, beeping blister packs and other new pharmaceutical delivery media, even if they are a bit pricey, could lower overall health care costs. Managed care is in the business of holding down costs.
Generics cost less than brands.
Reinventing the PBM Having transformed the market, pharmacy benefit management companies are now in for some shaking up themselves. More tightly controlled formularies are one possibility. We know that ACE inhibitors are a front-line treatment for congestive heart failure, but they're not prescribed often enough. To Improve Patient Compliance To improve compliance among its own employees and retirees, Union Carbide Corp. recently launched a pilot program with Aetna U.S. Healthcare to make sure employees are well informed about their medications. Electronic Prescriptions Are Coming Technology that allows you to zap prescriptions to pharmacies instantly is already being used by some doctors.