Drug Spend Down 7.2% Last Year, Optum Reports

Despite a 6.1% increase in the average wholesale price of prescription drugs, the average prescription-drug cost per workers’ comp claim fell by 7.2% last year, according to a new report from Optum. A decrease in drug use, as well as changes in the product and claim mix, contributed to the decrease in drug cost per claim, the pharmacy benefit manager said. The 6.1% increase in average wholesale price for prescription drugs overall was the result of a 14.1% increase for brand-name medications and a 0.3% increase for generics. Opioid use per claim fell 2.6% last year, according to Optum...