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Board hears experts: specialty drugs driving pharmacy cost growth, recommends management strategies
Summary
A panel for the Health Service System warned specialty medications are a fast‑growing cost driver — averaging thousands of dollars per month and, in some cases, $100,000 per course — and recommended strategies including specialty formularies, partial fills and clinical management to limit inappropriate utilization.
San Francisco’s Health Service System board heard a detailed briefing March 9 on specialty‑pharmacy trends and strategies to manage rapidly rising costs.
Aon/Huitt, Kaiser, UnitedHealthcare/OptumRx and Blue Shield described specialty medications as biologic, clinically complex and expensive. Aon/Huitt’s presentation cited averages of roughly $3,000 per month for many specialty drugs and noted certain treatments can cost the plan more than $100,000 for a single course. The consultants warned specialty drug spend, driven by new classes…
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