Services

Quick Facts

 

We have helped Massachusetts save more than $1 billion since 2001 by managing its Medicaid pharmacy benefit program. Generics make up more than 80 percent of prescriptions filled for the program.

 

 

Our drug utilization review programs save an average of $25 for each $1 spent by our clients

Use of Generic Drugs

For many organizations, increasing the use of generic drugs reduces medication costs over the long term, even though supplemental rebates may be less costly at first.

With states under increased pressure to cut budgets, some policy makers are calling for generic substitution policies — making this an ideal time to take advantage of the technique’s potential.

Our team can help you improve your rate of generic drug utilization through a generics-first program. 

We designed and implemented a generics-first program for Massachusetts Medicaid (MassHealth) and saved $99 million in pharmacy claims in the first year alone. The generic utilization rate in Massachusetts is now 83 percent, one of the highest in the nation.

Objective analysis of potential savings

Clinical Pharmacy Services provides you with an unbiased source of information on new drugs as well as comparisons of the short- and long-term costs of generic and branded medications. To maximize the savings that can result from implementing a generics-first approach, our team provides a multi-step analysis:

  • Analyzes your formulary
  • Recommends whether — and how — to incorporate any or all of the newest generic medications
  • Anticipates how new generic drugs will affect the utilization of other medications on your formulary or prior authorization list
  • Compares the short-term savings of drug company supplemental rebates with long-term savings using generic formulations
  • Evaluates each drug within the context of your organization’s individual circumstances and goals

Consultation, analysis, and operations support for generics-first

Our generic utilization services are supported by our expertise in operations, an essential factor in ensuring the long-term success of a generics-first program:

We also provide relevant consulting and data analysis to develop generics-first programs that will result in immediate savings and long-term cost-containment for your pharmacy program:

  • Assist in the drafting of legislation to adopt a mandatory generic substitution policy in your state
  • Analyze current systems for managing the formulary
  • Develop and implement preferred drug list
  • Analyze claims data
  • Assess opportunities for generic substitution and lower-cost therapies
  • Assist with stakeholder adoption of a generics-first policy
  • Create timeline for implementation