HID Blog How Formularies Make an Impact

Over the past few years, prescription drug costs have risen in a dramatic fashion. According to a federal report released this spring, prescription-drug spending rose 12.6% in 2014 and spending is expected to rise 7.3% a year through 2018. The increased cost is most closely associated with the influx of specialty drugs-high-cost prescription medications used to treat complex, chronic conditions. Rather than offset these prices, generic drugs costs are also experiencing an increase in price adding to the prescription drug cost burden. Drug utilization and the increasing cost of prescription drugs for members who require these medications as maintenance therapy is constantly in the forefront of discussion.