View this article online: https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2011/05/06/185506.htm

PMSI Releases 2011 Annual Drug Trends Report

The 2011 Annual Drug Trends Report, recently released by PMSI, a workers’ compensation medical cost containment provider, found that the average pharmacy spend per injured worker decreased by 2.3% in 2010.

The 2011 report identifies the top 10 trends that affect pharmacy spend across the areas of cost, utilization and drug mix. It also discusses industry developments, such as physician dispensing, expanded use of pharmacy networks and the broadening of formularies and utilization controls.

Significant findings in the report include:

• Overall average cost per day of supply fell 2.0%
• AWP changes represented a 3.5% increase in the average cost per day of supply in 2010 — 45% less than the increase in 2009
• Mail order cost per day of supply was 19% less than the average cost per day of supply through a retail pharmacy
• New medications released in 2010 had only a small impact on total drug spend

The 2011 report findings are based on data analysis of PMSI’s 5.4 million retail and mail order transactions during calendar years 2008 – 2010.

Source: PMSI