According to a recent piece from MedCity News, employers trying to shop for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are doing so in a market where pricing is effectively invisible. The report says employers cannot compare costs meaningfully because the underlying price tags are not disclosed, making it nearly impossible to assess whether their current PBM is competitive.
The same analysis notes that even when employers are dissatisfied, most cannot simply switch PBMs. That lack of flexibility, combined with opaque contract terms and rebate structures, leaves employers with limited leverage in negotiations over prescription drug spending.
The article argues that without clearer disclosure requirements or standardized pricing data, employers will continue to struggle in their efforts to control drug costs. This is based on a single source, so no contrasting views are available, but the central point is consistent: PBM transparency remains a barrier for employers.
For employers, the practical implication is that they must push for greater contractual transparency and consider auditing existing PBM arrangements, even if switching is not a realistic option. The source does not offer a specific legislative remedy, but it frames transparency as a necessary first step.