Exchange pharmacies using specialty drugs more often

Patients enrolled in public health exchanges under the Affordable Care Act are using more generics than patients in traditional health plans, but also are prescribed a larger proportion of specialty drugs, especially for HIV, according to Express Scripts Holding Co. (NASDAQ:ESRX).

In its second update on pharmacy trends for the exchange patient population, the PBM reported that exchange enrollees have filled 6% more generics prescriptions than enrollees in traditional plans. But for branded drugs, 59% more prescriptions for specialty medications have been prescribed for exchange enrollees than other insured individuals. That outlay is bigger for exchange enrollees aged 18-34, who have filled twice as many specialty medications as their cohort in traditional plans. ...