Successful Prescription Drug Discount Program Expands to Benefit More Consumers at Point-of-Sale
March 12 2019 - 6:00AM
Business Wire
- Builds on last year’s move to
directly deliver pharmacy discounts to UnitedHealthcare’s fully
insured members at the point-of-sale; consumers already seeing
average savings of $130 per eligible prescription in 2019
- Applies to all new self-funded
employer customers, ensuring negotiated prescription plan discounts
are passed on to consumers at the point of sale within applicable
plan designs
- Programs strengthen prescription
drug adherence by up to 16%, lead to improved patient
health
Building on the introduction of the first-of-its-kind
point-of-sale discount program, OptumRx and UnitedHealthcare are
expanding their innovative consumer point-of-sale prescription drug
discount programs to apply to all new employer-sponsored plans,
making medications more affordable and improving health
outcomes.
Specifically, for new business proposals beginning January 2020,
OptumRx and UnitedHealthcare will only support new employer clients
that incorporate point-of-sale discounts to consumers as part of
their plan design. This expansion builds on the existing
point-of-sale discount programs, announced a year ago and effective
January 1, 2019, which will serve more than 9 million consumers
this year. Commitments made to support existing clients prior to
this date will be grandfathered, including those currently in the
sales cycle for January 1, 2020 effective dates. While such plan
designs have been previously available to all employer customers,
this expansion is expected to accelerate adoption of point-of-sale
discounts across all types of commercial business, including
self-funded.
Just two months into the year, the existing program has already
lowered prescription drug costs for consumers by an average of $130
per eligible prescription. UnitedHealthcare data analytics
demonstrate that when consumers do not have a deductible or large
out-of-pocket cost, medication adherence improves by between 4 and
16 percent depending on plan design, contributing to better health
and reducing total health care costs for clients and the health
system overall.
“OptumRx is uniquely able to deploy the broadest range of tools
to rein in high drug prices, and this expanded point-of-sale
discount program demonstrates our commitment to delivering better
prices for consumers," said John Prince, chief executive officer,
OptumRx.
“Patients are seeing concrete benefits from UnitedHealthcare’s
groundbreaking point-of-sale discount program, which is just one
element in our commitment to help deliver better health, lower
costs and a better experience,” said Daniel J. Schumacher,
president and chief operating officer of UnitedHealthcare.
“Together with employer partners and OptumRx, UnitedHealthcare has
taken innovative action, bringing real value to consumers while
mitigating the impact of persistent drug price inflation brought on
by drug manufacturers affecting consumers’ ability to afford
medications and comply with their physician’s treatment plans.”
Existing OptumRx and UnitedHealthcare clients will have the
option to adopt these plan designs during contract renewal. Prior
to implementing the expansion of this program, OptumRx and
UnitedHealthcare have delivered negotiated drug manufacturer
rebates and discounts directly to employer clients, who have
generally utilized them to either reduce premiums for all members
or pass them on at the point of sale.
OptumRx’s efforts to control the high prices of drugs extends
beyond the point-of-sale discount program. Through uniquely
integrated clinical programs, innovative consumer engagement
solutions and engagement with pharmaceutical companies and retail
pharmacies, OptumRx improves health outcomes and saves clients and
consumers billions of dollars annually.
To learn more about OptumRx’s pharmacy care services, visit
www.optum.com.
About UnitedHealth Group
UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) is a diversified health care
company dedicated to helping people live healthier lives and
helping make the health system work better for everyone.
UnitedHealth Group offers a broad spectrum of products and services
through two distinct platforms: UnitedHealthcare, which provides
health care coverage and benefits services; and Optum, which
provides information and technology-enabled health services. For
more information, visit UnitedHealth Group at
www.unitedhealthgroup.com or follow @UnitedHealthGrp on
Twitter.
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Group.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190312005275/en/
Media Contacts:OptumDrew KrejciTel: (952)
205-6652andrew.krejci@optum.com
UnitedHealthcareDaryl RichardTel: (860)
702-7779daryl_richard@uhg.com
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