GLG News by Average Wholesale Pricing Economic Experts: Healthcare Consultants

Adam FeinFounder & PresidentPEMBROKE CONSULTING INC

ESRX-MHS: Antitrust Issues

July 26, 2011

Analysis of:Megadeal Unites Drug Rivals | online.wsj.com

I give the Express Scripts / Medco Health Solutions deal a 60% chance of being approved by the Federal Trade Commission. I think it’s going to be a very tough fight for antitrust approval, but perhaps not for the reasons you think. The Agreement and Plan of Merger filed on Friday gives us a peek at the companies’ strategy for clearing the antitrust hurdles. But note that there is no termination fee if the companies don’t get antitrust clearance.

Adam FeinFounder & PresidentPEMBROKE CONSULTING INC

ESRX-MHS: Strategic and Market Analysis

July 25, 2011

The Express Scripts / Medco Health Solutions deal makes sense given the dynamics of the PBM industry. At the same time, a successful transaction would signal the end of the PBM industry's major growth opportunities and the transition to a more mature, highly consolidated market. The post-2015 world looks much less rosy for PBMs as the generic wave crests and the government crowds out private payers.

Adam FeinFounder & PresidentPEMBROKE CONSULTING INC

What's Behind Teva's Cephalon Deal

May 3, 2011

Analysis of:Teva to Buy Cephalon in $6.8b Transaction | www.bloomberg.com

This is a great, albeit expensive, strategic move by Teva. Management clearly recognizes the business model problem looming ahead for the generic drug business. The deal boosts Teva's brand business while maintaining a broadly diversified revenue base, positioning Teva as the "anti-Pfizer."The pharma industry of tomorrow will be about expensive drugs for small patient populations and cheap drugs for large populations. I wonder how many manufacturers will be ready.

Adam FeinFounder & PresidentPEMBROKE CONSULTING INC

2011 Part D Market Share: A Win for Humana and Walmart

April 29, 2011

Next Monday, Humana will report results for the first quarter of 2011. Based on my independent analysis of CMS data on Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans (PDPs), the company will have a lot to brag about next week for its Retail segment: Humana had a net gain of about 570,000 PDP enrollees, more than any other organization in 2011. The Humana Walmart-Preferred Rx Plan, a preferred pharmacy network PDP launched in October 2010, is now the fifth-largest PDP in the U.S.

Adam FeinFounder & PresidentPEMBROKE CONSULTING INC

Express Scripts' Disruptive Specialty Strategy

April 14, 2011

Express Scripts is ahead of its PBM peers with an innovative and risky strategy for absorbing the buy-and-bill specialty drug spending from health care providers. If successful, the company will become the clear leader in a big new addressable market for PBM services. It also puts them on a collision course with AmerisourceBergen and McKesson for control over specialty channels to physician offices and clinics. 

Bruce GoldbergPharmacistKOHLL'S PHARMACY & HOMECARE, INC

Rx Savings with Generic vs Branded Medications

March 28, 2011

Analysis of:Buying Brand-Name Drugs Over Generics Raises Medicaid Costs | www.bloomberg.com

With dollar shortfalls for Rx benefits, controlling drug costs is imperative. By utilizing a strict formulary of covered products, along with clear, real time messaging to the pharmacies,  the generic fill rate (GFR) will rise. With a higher GFR, savings is attained.

Adam FeinFounder & PresidentPEMBROKE CONSULTING INC

Thoughts on the Catalyst-Walgreen Deal

March 10, 2011

Analysis of:Walgreen to Sell Unit for $525 Million | online.wsj.com

This is a big move for Catalyst, which vaults ahead of its competitors to become the fifth largest PBM behind the Big 3 PBMs—CVS Caremark , Express Scripts , and Medco Health Solutions —and United Health’s Prescription Solutions. Even so, Catalyst will have less than 5% of the total U.S. prescription volume vs. about 70% for the top four. Below I discuss the implications for: Walgreens The PBM industry CVS Caremark

Adam FeinFounder & PresidentPEMBROKE CONSULTING INC

Medtronic Dumps Novation: Why GPOs Should Worry

March 1, 2011

Analysis of:Medtronic Makes Bold Pact-Ending Move Amid Medical-Device Woes | online.wsj.com

Medtronic is questioning the core of a GPO’s business model—pooling member purchase volumes in exchange for lower prices from manufacturers and wholesalers. Medtronic is the first company to make such a bold public move against GPOs, but other manufacturers are rethinking their channel and contracting strategies. Direct contracting is an existential mega-threat facing the GPO industry. A weaker GPO industry would likely be a net positive for wholesalers, particularly Cardinal Health .

Adam FeinFounder & PresidentPEMBROKE CONSULTING INC

CVS Caremark: Still Searching for Synergy

February 8, 2011

In the latest results from CVS Caremark , the company was not even able to meet the lowered expectations for its PBM business that the company had set for itself just three months ago. Unless there is major progress, I still predict a 2012 Caremark spin off for the reasons outlined in When will CVS and Caremark split up? Comments by new CEO Larry Merlo suggest that this scenario is now under active consideration.

Adam FeinFounder & PresidentPEMBROKE CONSULTING INC

Walgreens Joins the Attack on PBM Mail Profits

January 18, 2011

Analysis of:Walgreen aims to fill more 90-day prescriptions | www.chicagobusiness.com

Low-price retail fulfillment of 90-day prescriptions is a threat to PBM profits. Walgreens joins Walmart and CVS Caremark in pursuing strategies that eliminate the traditional out-of-pocket cost difference for consumers between mail and retail pharmacies. Will plan sponsors pay attention and create a strategic vulnerability in the profit model of Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions ?

Page : 12345678910Next1 to 10 of 207