Drug Channels

Fixing the Front Door Isn’t the Same as Fixing Time to Therapy

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Today's guest post comes from Tom Traylor, Senior Vice President of Pharmacy Operations at CareMetx.

Tom examines how intake speed and time to therapy relate to each other in specialty pharmacy programs. He describes how bringing pharmacy connectivity to the front of the patient journey can support faster benefit verification, clearer affordability answers, and shorter time to therapy.

To learn more about CareMetx's pharmacy model, download their guide, The Hidden Cost of the Hub-to-Pharmacy Handoff (and How to Close the Gap).

Read on for Tom's insights.
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Preorder DCI’s New 2026-27 Economic Report on Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Specialty Distributors

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 10:00:00 +0000

On October 12, 2026, Drug Channels Institute will release our 2026-27 Economic Report on Pharmaceutical Wholesalers and Specialty Distributors.

The U.S. prescription drug market continues to expand, but the foundations of the drug channel are shifting. Legislative intervention, pricing realignment, vertical integration, and alternative payment models are accelerating a transition away from a rebate-driven system built on high list prices and toward a marketplace increasingly shaped by net prices.

DCI’s seventeenth annual report examines what these changes mean for the pharmaceutical wholesalers and specialty distributors at the center of the U.S. drug channel. With nine chapters, more than 400 pages, 193 exhibits, and more than 930 endnotes, this report is unmatched in scope and depth.

Preorder today to secure the fully updated, revised, and expanded 2026-27 edition at special discounted prices. Preorders also ensure early access. You will receive the report before its October 12 release date.

Download a free pre-publication report overview
(Industry trends, What's New, Table of Contents, List of Exhibits)

Review pricing and license options–and preorder now

You can pay online with all major credit cards. Contact us if you prefer to pay by corporate check or ACH.

Special preorder and launch pricing discounts will be available through October 26, 2026. Act now to maximize your savings.

The chart below highlights the vertical alignment and diverse roles of Cencora, Cardinal Health, and McKesson within the U.S. healthcare system. The circled numbers identify the report chapters that explain and analyze each business.

[Click to enlarge]

The new edition provides the most current financial and industry data about pharmaceutical distribution. Among the major findings and expanded areas of coverage:

Drug distribution revenues for the Big Three public wholesalers are projected to reach $933 billion in 2026, although growth has slowed from double-digit to mid-single-digit rates.

The largest wholesalers have invested more than $20 billion in physician management services organizations, transforming their roles in buy-and-bill markets.

Changes in drug pricing, direct-to-patient models, and other emerging channels are accelerating the industry’s transition toward a Net Pricing Drug Channel.

The report examines the evolving economics of biosimilars, cell and gene therapies, the 340B Drug Pricing Program, and implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act.

DCI’s proprietary economic models reveal differences in the business strategies, market positions, financial performance, and underlying profitability of Cencora, Cardinal Health, and McKesson.

There are 193 exhibits in the 2026-27 edition, compared with 187 in last year’s report. Most are new or fully updated.

See pages 9 and 10 of the free report overview for full details about the notable new material in the 2026-27 edition.

Thank you for your continued interest in our research. Please email us (dcisupport@hmpglobal.com) with any questions before purchasing. We look forward to sharing this year’s insights with you.

Informa Connect’s Pharma/Biotech GTN Summit

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Informa Connect’s Pharma/Biotech GTN Summit
November 16-18, 2026 | Hilton at Penn’s Landing, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Exclusive Discount For Readers:
Use promo code 26DCH15 for 15% off* your registration.

Download the agenda here
Reserve your spot here

Informa’s Pharma/Biotech GTN Summit returns on November 16-18, 2026, in Philadelphia, PA, bringing together hundreds of senior finance, gross-to-net and accounting professionals from across the life sciences industry to navigate the evolving complexities of gross-to-net management in an era of unprecedented regulatory change.

This year’s CPE-accredited event (offering up to 16.0 CPE credits, plus 2.0 additional credits with the optional add-on, pre-conference training course) will deliver cutting-edge insights on AI integration, IRA implementation strategies, and advanced forecasting methodologies. With an intensive focus on regulatory adaptation, technology transformation, and cross-functional excellence, the agenda addresses the most pressing challenges facing GTN professionals today – from Maximum Fair Price (MFP) operationalization to AI-powered analytics and strategic organizational design.

Featured Thought Leaders Include:

Brett Nussbaum, Head of Gross to Net Accounting, Novartis

Matt Pellegrini, Senior Director Business Finance, NA, Teva Pharmaceuticals

Prakash Chainani, Senior Vice President – Finance, HR & IT, Lifestar Pharma

Kinneret Klein, Executive Director, Commercial Financial Planning & Analysis, BioCryst

Ivorita Foster, Director, Gross to Net – Finance, Sandoz

Bal Ram Chopra, Senior Vice President, Finance & Operations, Tethra Biosciences

James Engel, Controller, Finance, Collegium Pharmaceuticals

Darpan Jhaveri, Senior Director – US Revenue and Inventory Accounting, Insmed Incorporated

Robert Lucchesi, Director, GTN Forecasting, Novo Nordisk

Ranish Singhvi, Vice President, Finance, Accord Healthcare

Elizabeth Rodriguez, Director, Revenue, Akebia Therapeutics, Inc.

Neel Shah, Life Sciences Advisory Director, RSM US LLP

Walt Worsham, Managing Director, IntegriChain

Jennifer Sharpe, Vice President, Gross-to-Net Consulting, IntegriChain

See why the GTN Summit remains the top choice for your peers navigating the intersection of GTN complexity and clarity.

PLUS! Save 15%* when you reserve your place today using the VIP code 26DCH15.

*Offer exclusively for life sciences manufacturers only. Offer applies to the current rate and maybe not be applied to existing registrations; additional terms may apply, see website for full details.

The content of Sponsored Posts does not necessarily reflect the views of HMP Omnimedia, LLC, Drug Channels Institute, its parent company, or any of its employees. To find out how you can publish an event post on Drug Channels, please contact Marie Caldwell (mcaldwell@hmpglobal.com).

Drug Channels Leadership Forum 2027: Antonio Ciaccia to Serve as Moderator

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:30:00 +0000

By Tyler Novotny

We’re excited to announce the return of the Drug Channels Leadership Forum (DCLF), taking place March 15–17, 2027, at the JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa in Miami. Drug Channels Institute (DCI) will once again host this invitation-only gathering of senior leaders and decision-makers from across the drug channel.

DCLF returns for its third year with the same focus that has defined the event from the start: candid, consequential conversations about the forces reshaping the U.S. pharmaceutical ecosystem.

Request Your Invitation Today!

BlinkRx Insights: Beyond the Hub - Rethinking the Prescription Journey

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Today's guest post comes from Geoffrey Chaiken and Matthew Chaiken, Co-founders of BlinkRx.

Geoffrey and Matthew examine how efforts to improve patient access have contributed to an increasingly fragmented prescription journey. They suggest that a more integrated approach can reduce complexity, improve visibility and control for manufacturers, and create a simpler path to therapy for patients.

To learn more about the BlinkRx Prescription Journey Management Platform, visit BlinkRx.

Read on for Geoffrey and Matthew's insights.
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The Private Label Biosimilar Paradox in Medicare Part D

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:30:00 +0000

By Tyler Novotny and Bryce Platt

PBM-affiliated private label biosimilars would seem to have a built-in formulary advantage. But for ustekinumab, that advantage has not carried over to Medicare Part D.

A recent JAMA Network Open study identified 12 ustekinumab products available for formulary coverage in early 2026. Yet the average Part D plan covered only 2.3 biosimilars. Even more surprising, PBM affiliated private label products were largely missing from formularies connected to their corporate siblings.

CVS Health’s Cordavis labeled Pyzchiva received no Part D coverage. Optum Rx’s Nuvaila labeled Wezlana appeared in just 0.4% of UnitedHealth plans.

The results run against the conventional logic of vertical integration. If a PBM can influence formulary placement, why not direct volume toward its own product like in commercial formularies? The answer lies in the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Part D redesign, which made the economics of an affiliated private label biosimilar potentially less attractive in Medicare than in the commercial market.

Below, we follow the incentives that help explain why PBM-affiliated biosimilars remain largely absent from Medicare Part D formularies.
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Medicare, Medicaid, and Reverification: What Patient Support Programs Need to Know Before January 2027

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Today's guest post comes from Bryce Aronson, Director of Business Development at AssistRx.

Bryce covers three considerations taking effect in January 2027—the end of Medicare Part D premium support, a faster Medicaid redetermination timeline, and the shift away from once-a-year reverification—and what they mean for patient support programs. He explores how affordability solutions can help reduce coverage disruptions, minimize unnecessary PAP utilization, and maintain continuity of therapy throughout the transition.

To learn more about AssistRx's affordability solutions, access their webinar, State of Patient Support 2026: Turning Regulatory Policy, AI and Direct-to-Patient Pressure into Program Strategy.

Read on for Bryce's insights.
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Drug Channels News Roundup, August 2026: 340B Rebate Model v2, Patients Feeling Drug Costs, Specialty Drug Spending Drivers, Impact on Coverage from the IRA, and a Drug Price Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 10:30:00 +0000

By Bryce Platt, PharmD

Kids are heading back to school, but the drug channel never stops handing out homework. Fortunately, we did some of the research prep for you.

In this issue:

HRSA's Revised 340B Rebate Model Pilot

Households Feel the Cost of Prescription Drugs More

The Drivers of Specialty Drug Spending

Lost Brand Coverage in Medicare Part D Plans After the IRA

Extra: Let’s Go on an Adventure to Find Out What Your Prescription Actually Costs You!

P.S. Join my nearly 42,000 LinkedIn followers for valuable daily posts at 9 a.m. ET. Read more »

Invisible Work of Rare Pharmacy Delivers Highly Visible Patient Outcomes

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Today's guest post comes from Jay Weaver, VP, Payer Solutions at PANTHERx^® Rare.

Jay describes the clinical and operational work that often happens behind the scenes at a Rare Pharmacy. He explains how these capabilities—including greater personalization, real-world evidence, and specialized clinical expertise—can support therapeutic success and help payers assess the value of Rare Pharmacy.

To learn more about the PANTHERx approach to Rare Pharmacy, download their guide, Five Criteria for Payers to Evaluate a Rare-Focused Specialty Pharmacy.

Read on for Jay's insights.
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REMS Removed: Why CAR-T’s Expansion into Community Oncology Could Benefit the Big Three Wholesalers

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Tue, 18 Aug 2026 10:30:00 +0000

By Greis Kapexhiu and Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.

In June 2025, the FDA announced that CAR-T therapies would no longer be subject to a REMS program.

The FDA’s removal of CAR-T REMS requirements eliminates one obstacle to expanding treatment beyond traditional academic medical centers. That change could disproportionately benefit the Big Three wholesalers, which have spent billions building positions in community oncology while simultaneously investing in cell-and-gene-therapy distribution and support infrastructure.

Read on for our review of this dynamic sector and ponder how wholesalers’ community oncology roll-up activities could interact with their cell and gene therapy (CGT) investments. Will wholesalers capture a growing share of CAR-T’s economics, or will hospitals continue to hold the upper hand?
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Hub Transitions Need Proven Plans, Smart Scale-Up

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Today's guest post comes from Josh Marsh, Vice President and General Manager at Cardinal Health Sonexus™ Access and Patient Support.

Josh examines the risks manufacturers take when transitioning a patient services hub from one vendor to another. He argues that scaling with a proven, flexible blueprint can help hubs with speed, patient continuity, and confident decision-making.

To learn more, download Cardinal Health Sonexus™ Access and Patient Support's framework: 5 Questions Every Manufacturer Should Ask Before a Hub Transition.

Read on for Josh's insights.
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The K-Shaped Pharmacy Shakeout: Consolidation in Cities, Lost Access in Rural America

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 10:30:00 +0000

By Bryce Platt, PharmD

The United States has almost 8,000 fewer retail pharmacies than it did in 2018, and more than 2,000 closed in 2025 alone. Rite Aid has liquidated. Walgreens is working through a multi-year plan to shutter hundreds of stores. CVS has trimmed hundreds more.

Yet total U.S. prescription dispensing revenues for all dispensing formats reached a record $751 billion in 2025, up 10% from 2024.

Record closures and record revenue in the same year may seem contradictory, but national totals obscure very different effects on the community. The impact of the retail pharmacy shakeout on patient access has become geographically K-shaped: dense markets can absorb pharmacy closures with little loss of patient access, while rural communities can lose their only nearby pharmacy.

The economic pressures on pharmacies are similar across the country. The access consequences of a closure are not. Below, we examine what is driving the shakeout and why geography determines which communities can absorb them.
Read more »

Informa Connect’s Medicaid Drug Rebate Program Summit

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Informa Connect’s Medicaid Drug Rebate Program Summit
October 5-7, 2026 | Chicago, IL
Drug Channels readers save 10% with code 26DRCH10*
View Agenda | Download Brochure

The Medicaid Drug Rebate Program Summit returns to Chicago this October! Join 700 annual attendees and nearly 90 expert speakers to master complex regulatory guidelines to deliver compliant government pricing and reporting programs.

The 2026 event features:

Direct state engagement: One-on-one Medicaid dispute resolution with 31+ confirmed states.
Comprehensive coverage: MFP implementation, inflation rebates first invoicing, pharma tariffs, Buy America rules, onshoring strategies, PBM reforms, FTC transparency mandates, and physician-administered product challenges, 340B, AMP, URA, GTN, SPTR, FMV, FSS, Medicaid Parts D and B, and more.
Unparalleled faculty: Industry leaders from Gilead, AbbVie, Amgen, AstraZeneca, Genentech, Eli Lilly; legal authorities from Hogan Lovells, Arnold & Porter, Covington & Burling; government representatives including CMS, OIG, VA, and 31+ state Medicaid agencies.
Networking: Opportunities to build valuable connections with more than 700 annual attendees.

Prior attendees praise the event as “An excellent forum to meet industry professionals and gain insight into best practices, current and future, of what’s to come regarding manufacturers and government regulations.”

The MDRP Summit remains essential for anyone navigating the complex intersection of pharmaceutical economics, compliance, and government programs. With expert speakers, targeted sessions, and valuable networking opportunities, this event delivers actionable insights you can implement immediately.

View the agenda for MDRP 2026 to see the complete picture – the program, speakers, and more, and visit www.informaconnect.com/MDRPSummit for further details and to register.

Drug Channels readers will save 10% off when they use code 26DRCH10 and register prior to September 18, 2026.*

*Cannot be combined with other offers or used towards a current registration. Cannot be combined with special category rates or other offers. Other restrictions may apply.

A System of Record, or a System of Learning?

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Fri, 07 Aug 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Today's guest post comes from Scott Filosi, Chief Commercial Officer at Valeris.

Scott explores how patient access organizations can move beyond simply tracking the patient journey to using real-time insights to improve it. He argues that connecting commercial strategy, market access, payer intelligence, and patient services can speed access to therapy, improve decision-making, and enhance the patient experience.

To learn more, download Valeris’ white paper: The Unified Ecosystem: How Valeris Integrates Intelligence and Execution for Better Patient Outcomes.

Read on for Scott's insights.
Read more »

Who Will Pay for Prescription Drugs in 2034? Medicare's Surprising Rise in the Latest Government Forecasts

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 10:30:00 +0000

By Adam J. Fein, Ph.D. and Greis Kapexhiu

In late June, the boffins at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the latest projections for U.S. spending on healthcare. (See links below.) These data provide the latest official, nonpartisan look at the future of U.S. healthcare spending.

Notably, overall U.S. spending on drugs dispensed by retail and mail pharmacies will remain about 9% of overall healthcare spending.

However, the new forecasts reflect the reality that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) finally acknowledged last week: The Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Part D provisions will cost much more than CBO had initially estimated.

Below, we outline the factors that led to the dramatic revision to Medicare spending, along with insights on the shrinking role of private insurance and consumer out-of-pocket spending.

Taxpayers—primarily via Medicare and Medicaid—now account for a majority of U.S. prescription drug spending, outstripping the share financed via employer-sponsored insurance.

Like it or not, everyone in the drug channel should prepare to deal with the government programs as increasingly important transaction partners—along with the biggest vertically integrated insurers, PBMs, specialty pharmacies, and healthcare services that administer these programs.
Read more »

The Industry Doesn't Have an Access Collaboration Problem. It Has an Accountability Problem.

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Fri, 31 Jul 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Today's guest post comes from Jen Norton, President, Market Access & Value at EVERSANA.

Jen examines why fragmented ownership across development, regulatory, pricing, distribution, and field functions undermines access at launch. She argues that naming a single accountable owner for the access outcome can close "access debt" earlier, reduce pre-launch friction, and turn coverage into real patient access.

Learn more about EVERSANA's approach to access.

Read on for Jen's insights.
Read more »

Drug Channels News Roundup, July 2026: Biosimilar Launch Strategy, Part D Spending Trends, Rural 340B Hospitals, What Employers Can Do About 340B, and Drug Channel Villains

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 10:30:00 +0000

By Bryce Platt, PharmD

Summer's in full swing, but the drug channel didn't take a break.

What better way to spend the summer than reading about new pharmacy resources in the Drug Channels News Roundup?

In this issue:

The New Biosimilar Launch Playbook

Factors Adding to Part D Cost Trends

Rural vs. Non-rural 340B Hospitals

The Employer 340B Playbook

Extra: Who are the Villains in the Drug Channel?

P.S. Join my nearly 40,000 LinkedIn followers for valuable daily posts at 9 a.m. ET. Read more »

Direct-to-Patient: Transforming the Manufacturer Access Model

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Fri, 24 Jul 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Today's guest post comes from Chip Parkinson, CEO at Gifthealth.

Chip discusses how Direct-to-Patient (DTP) models can transform the manufacturer access model for prescription therapies. He argues that a tech-plus-touch, end-to-end approach can improve patient access, protect manufacturer economics, and increase brand trust and loyalty.

Learn more about Gifthealth.

Read on for Chip's insights.
Read more »

2025 Gross-to-Net Realities at Eight Top Drugmakers: The Net Pricing Drug Channel Emerges

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Tue, 21 Jul 2026 10:30:00 +0000

By Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.

Every year, Drug Channels reviews drug pricing trends at the largest pharmaceutical manufacturers. This year's disclosures provide early evidence that the economics of the U.S. drug channel—and the strategies manufacturers use to secure market access—are beginning to change.

We review the following eight companies: Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Genentech, GlaxoSmithKline, Sanofi, Takeda, Teva, and UCB. You can find links to each company’s data in the appendix.

Our review found:

Brand-name drug list prices continued to rise modestly, while mandatory and voluntary rebates, discounts, and fees reduced net prices at seven of the eight manufacturers.

The average gross-to-net price difference was –5.5%, reflecting an average list price increase of 3.7% and an average net price decline of 1.8%.

For the three manufacturers that disclosed these data, rebates, discounts, and other fees reduced the selling prices of brand-name drugs to less than half of their list prices.

Sanofi's latest and historical disclosures provide one of the clearest illustrations yet of the drug channel's changing economics. Since 2020, the company's estimated U.S. biopharmaceutical sales have grown far faster than rebate payments. As a result, the share of its gross sales returned to payers as rebates declined from 51% to 39%.

Taken together, this year's manufacturer disclosures suggest that the gross-to-net bubble is growing more slowly—and even deflating in parts of the market. Meanwhile, the Net Pricing Drug Channel (NPDC) is becoming visible in manufacturers’ pricing disclosures and financial statements.
Read more »

Direct-to-Consumer Shouldn't Always Mean Direct-To-Mail-Order: Why Fulfillment Choice Matters

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Fri, 17 Jul 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Today's guest post comes from Divya Iyer, SVP, Head of Revenue, Pharma Direct at GoodRx.

Divya examines why direct-to-consumer strategies shouldn't default to mail-order as the endpoint for every program. She argues that preserving patient choice between retail pickup and home delivery can reduce friction, improve therapy initiation, and strengthen the overall patient experience.

To learn more about GoodRx's Pharma Direct solution, visit GoodRx Pharma Direct.

Read on for Divya's insights.
Read more »

The 340B Program Hit $100 Billion in 2025: Has It Become Too Big to Reform?

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Wed, 15 Jul 2026 10:30:00 +0000

By Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.

The 340B Drug Pricing Program continues to redefine the meaning of "skyrocketing."

For 2025, discounted purchases under the 340B program reached an astounding $100 billion—23% higher than in 2024.

The gross-to-net difference between list prices and discounted 340B purchases—a proxy for funds available to covered entities—also grew, to $79.5 billion (+$12.0 billion).

Hospitals again accounted for 87% of 340B purchases.

340B purchases are now more than 70% larger than Medicaid’s net prescription drug spending. The program now accounts for nearly one-fifth of the total U.S. gross-to-net bubble.

During DCI’s June webinar, I predicted that the 340B program would move from an era of expansion and opacity to one of transparency and accountability.

But given the latest growth figures, I worry that reform of this undermanaged, out-of-control program may never happen. Has the program become too big to reform?

Read on for our full analysis—and consider whether 340B will ever face its true day of reckoning.

Click here to share your thoughts on the latest 340B data with the Drug Channels community on LinkedIn.
Read more »

Medicare Embraces Site-Neutral Payments. Why Haven't Employers?

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 10:30:00 +0000

By Bryce Platt, PharmD

Provider-administered drugs are one of the fastest-growing and least-managed cost drivers for commercial plan sponsors.

Despite that, recent data from the Pharmaceutical Strategies Group show that only 35% of commercial plan sponsors currently have a site of care (SOC) program in place for specialty pharmacy. That result is surprising given the size of the savings at stake.

Medicare has figured this out and started site-neutral payments over a decade ago, but the employers who fund the bulk of commercial health spending largely haven't.

The evidence supporting SOC management is no longer the story. The real question is why so many commercial plans continue paying hospital prices when lower-cost alternatives already exist.
Read more »

When Access Tightens, Prior Authorization Execution Becomes the Differentiator

noreply@blogger.com (BTP) — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 10:30:00 +0000

Today's guest post comes from Megan Wetzel, Vice President of Product, Access and Affordability at CoverMyMeds.

Megan examines how prior authorization execution has become a strategic differentiator for biopharma brands as formulary changes and expanding utilization management put more pressure on access. She argues that building consistent, scalable prior auth execution can reduce therapy delays, improve determination time, and strengthen brand performance across the product lifecycle.

To learn more about CoverMyMeds' prior authorization solution, download their case study: From Decline to Growth: How One Brand Expanded Access in Late Lifecycle.

Read on for Megan's insights.
Read more »

The Hidden Cost of 340B for Employers and Health Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 10:30:00 +0000

By Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.

For years, the controversy surrounding the 340B Drug Pricing Program has centered on hospitals, manufacturers, and contract pharmacies.

But employers and health plans have become major participants in the program's economics—even though many don't realize it.

The short video below—excerpted from DCI’s recent 340B in 2026: Market Shifts, Policy Battles, and What They Mean for Stakeholders webinar—explains why.

In eight minutes, I discuss:

How retrospective identification of contract pharmacy claims can eliminate manufacturer rebates for commercial plans while increasing plan costs

What PBMs’ growing role in the 340B contract pharmacy market means for pharmacy benefits

Why the economics differ from what many employers believe is happening at the pharmacy counter

What newly reported Minnesota data reveal about who ultimately funds hospitals' 340B net profits

Whether you support or oppose the current structure of 340B, it is becoming harder to ignore that the debate is expanding beyond manufacturers and hospitals. Employers, health plans, and policymakers are beginning to ask who ultimately finances the program—and what those economics mean for benefit costs and premiums.

Click here to share your thoughts with the Drug Channels community on LinkedIn.

Can’t see the video? Click here to watch the 340B clip.

Drug Channels News Roundup, June 2026: PBM Shakeout Accelerates, 340B Enters a New Era, Rebate Questions Persist, Mark Cuban Wins Again, and Ge Bai’s HHS Nomination

noreply@blogger.com (Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.) — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 10:30:00 +0000

By Adam J. Fein, Ph.D.

Happy 250th birthday, America! Before you launch your semiquincentennial festivities, Drug Channels offers some fireworks of our own:

The PBM Shakeout Is Gaining Momentum

340B: From Opacity and Expansion to Transparency and Accountability

Why Do Many Employers Say They Don’t Receive 100% Of Their PBM Rebates?

Mark Cuban Wins the Generic Price War (Again)

Plus: Congratulations to Ge Bai on her nomination!

P.S. Join my nearly 71,000 LinkedIn followers for links to neat stuff, along with unfiltered commentary from the DCI community.
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