Patients Suffer as PBMs Exclude Hundreds of Medicines Per Year from Formularies

Every year, hundreds of thousands of commercially insured patients may not be able to access their physician prescribed treatments. That’s according to a new study by Xcenda that found that the number of medicines excluded from standard formularies by at least one of the three largest PBMs increased by an average of 34% per year from 2014 to 2020.

By preventing or delaying access to treatment, these formulary exclusions can affect patient adherence and lead to adverse health outcomes. Any decision on what treatment is best for a patient should rest solely with clinicians, not middlemen. Read more here.

(Source: Katie Koziara, The Catalyst, September 18, 2020)