Ascende Dramatically Cuts Clients’ Pharmacy Costs, Reducing Trend In 2015

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HOUSTON (January 23, 2015) Ascende just completed renegotiations with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that dramatically improve guaranteed pricing agreements for the company’s pharmacy purchasing collective. This is expected to significantly reduce employers’ pharmacy costs in 2015 and result in a lower year-over-year trend

Ascende Dramatically Cuts Clients’ Pharmacy Costs, Reducing Trend In 2015

Issued by: AscendeDate: Thursday, January 29, 2015
HOUSTON (January 23, 2015) Ascende just completed renegotiations with pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that dramatically improve guaranteed pricing agreements for the company’s pharmacy purchasing collective. This is expected to significantly reduce employers’ pharmacy costs in 2015 and result in a lower year-over-year trend.“In a business environment where cost reduction is the number one priority, Ascende is excited to announce that our clients’ pharmacy costs will fall an additional 13% in 2015,” said Ascende Pharmacy Director Robin Rankin, R.Ph.“Up to 25% of total medical plan costs are from pharmacy. An additional reduction in cost, and a low single-digit inflation factor year over year, adds value in the constant battle to manage overall health care costs,” said Ascende EVP Brett Haugh.

“Our clients are concerned about how fluctuating commodity prices impact their business,” said Ascende SVP Suzanne McGarey. “That reality, and the emergence of new specialty drugs coming to market—such as hepatitis C treatments and cancer drugs—along with an aging workforce, all make the Ascende pharmacy collective an easy solution for employers with self-funded plans. It lowers their overall cost and manages their pharmacy program more effectively.”

The results speak for themselves. Ascende’s 13-year track record illustrates how impactful the pharmacy collective is across the firm’s client base. The collective outperformed pharmacy benefits supported in house by the managed care vendors, and it outperformed carved-out contract arrangements negotiated directly by employers or their consultant/broker.

About Ascende:
Ascende is a Houston-based human capital and employee benefits consulting firm. Comprised of exceptional individuals from diverse professional backgrounds, we leverage the collective insight of our team to provide clients with relevant, tailored human resource strategies, and the confidence that their overall business goals are being supported.