Blue Shield of CA's Bold Move to Bypass PBMs

Send us Fan MailIt’s no secret that medical drug prices have been out of control for most Americans.However, one hospital group has a novel idea to control drug spending.Blue Shield of California is bypassing PBMs by negotiating directly with the manufacturer of a biosimilar for Humira.Is this a one-off experiment or the start of a bigger trend that can drive industry-wide impact?In this episode of CareTalk, David E. Williams and John Driscoll discuss these price negotiation tactics and what they see as the long-term results of Blue Shield of California’s attempt to lower pharmaceutical prices.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/caretalk and get on your way to being your best self.As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.TOPICS(0:34) Sponsorship(1:50) Understanding the Complex Nature of Deals with PBMs(2:40) Examining the Humira Deal(3:18) Is the Humira Deal a Trend in Healthcare?(5:43) Will Deals Like Humira Lower Drug Costs?(7:30) Will Patients See Lower Drug Costs?(9:58) How PBMs Factor into Lowering Drug Costs(11:58) The Investor's Perspective on the Blue Shield Deal(13:20) How Patients Factor into Drug Negotiations(16:48) Exploring Cost Plus's Pricing Deals(20:30) PBMs, Inflation, and the Future of Drug Costs🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALKCareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy.GET IN TOUCHBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterShop official CareTalk merchFOLLOW CARETALKSupport the show⚙️CareTalk:  Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.