Overall Mail-Order Rx Costs Below Retail But Some Mail Pharmacies Much Higher

A Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services study comparing Medicare Part D sponsors’ negotiated prices for mail-order drugs with those at their retail network pharmacies found that, overall, the mail-order prices were lower, but some sponsors had significantly higher mail-order prices.

Although it found higher prices for mail-order compared with retail pharmacies for some prescription drug plans (PDPs), “overall mail order negotiated prices are lower than retail pharmacy negotiated prices,” the study said.

In its analysis, the CMS identified 57 plan sponsors offering PDPs with mail-order benefits and examined claims data for the top 25 brand and top 25 generic ...