Integrated onsite pharmacy decreases prescription costs and promotes medication adherence
How a Premise Health onsite pharmacy decreased medical and prescription costs by $13.8 million.
In the face of rising prescription drug costs, self-insured employers must make tough decisions, balancing expenses with the need to offer top-tier benefits that keep people at their best. A dedicated pharmacy strategy offers the best of both worlds.
One Premise Health client realized nearly $14 million in cost savings by:
- Promoting medication adherence
- Increasing direct access to pharmacists
- Leveraging Premise Health’s national drug purchasing power
The Challenge
Our client, an internet networking pioneer based in San Jose, California, was looking for ways to control benefit costs, while at the same time solidifying its place as an employer of choice. In an industry where unlimited vacation, free transportation, and daily meals are standard issue, this was no easy task.
The Solution
Premise Health identified the opportunity to reduce costs through a dedicated pharmacy model. In accessible, value-based care, our client’s leadership recognized the chance to increase ownership and quality of employee health benefits, drive an innovative wellness experience, and provide better access to care.
In 2008, Premise Health built an integrated pharmacy solution that made it easier for employees to access care and obtain necessary medication. This onsite, dedicated solution was staffed with two full-time pharmacists and three technicians.
In contrast to typical retail pharmacies that decrease headcount in order to achieve profitability, Premise Health’s pharmacy solutions emphasize personalized service. Our pharmacists and technicians are motivated to build member relationships in order to improve health and medication adherence.
Medication cost comparison∗
Generic…………$30
Brand……………$510
Specialty………$4,500
*30-day generic, brand, and specialty drug supply
For our client, this approach gave employees the opportunity to fully engage with an onsite pharmacy to manage chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol. At the same time, it helped employees get to the root cause of their health conditions – all to realize true value and cost savings.
The program delivered additional value through pharmacist-facilitated counseling, drug monitoring, member education, and care coordination to drive effective self-management practices and boost medication adherence. Other benefits included:
- Free generic prescriptions for enrolled PPO members
- 15% discount for health savings plan participants
- Reduced copays for 90-day vs. 30-day refills
- Over-the-counter drug discounts for all pharmacy users
The Outcome
The integration of pharmacy services into a primary care model that emphasized personalized, member-centered care was the first step. Combined with real-time utilization reports and analytics, our client was able to realize a return on investment of $12 million in medical savings and $1.8 million in pharmacy savings over three years – a combined value of $13.8 million.
Members with increased days’ supply led to improved adherence, better health and lower medical costs.
Savings, per member per year
- Diabetes Medical: $2,773
- Hypertension Medical: $1,055
- Dyslipidemia Medical: $640
Savings, per member per year
- Diabetes Rx: $221
- Hypertension Rx: $297
- Dyslipidemia Rx: $58
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