Elevance Health PBM debuts digital pharmacy
CarelonRx Pharmacy, will allow members to engage with pharmacists, compare costs and track the status of medications.
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CarelonRx, Elevance Health's pharmacy benefit manager, is seeking to make it easier for patients to track prescriptions through the launch of a new digital pharmacy.
Dubbed CarelonRx Pharmacy, the digital pharmacy will launch on January 1, 2024. It will allow members to engage with pharmacists via text, chat or phone 24/7, compare costs of medications, and track the status of medications throughout the order process.
Members will also receive push notifications with proactive status updates and can text directly with CarelonRx Pharmacy representatives.
In addition, all members who utilize CarelonRx Pharmacy will be able to have their medications delivered to an address convenient to them, whether it be a home address, vacation home, etc.
WHAT'S THE IMPACT?
The new digital pharmacy aims to close care gaps, improve adherence and lower costs, while at the same time removing barriers associated with traditional retail and mail order pharmacy models. Internal CarelonRx data shows that when members use home delivery versus in-person retail, there is an increase in medication adherence with anxiety, depression and antipsychotic medications.
The pharmacy also promises a simple start-up process. Beginning next month, members can request their provider send their maintenance medication prescriptions to CarelonRx Pharmacy. They can also digitally transfer existing maintenance medication prescriptions to the online pharmacy, or they can call the member services phone number on their pharmacy ID card.
CarelonRx Pharmacy is just one part of the company's strategy. The outfit plans to open three BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy distributions centers in Chandler, Arizona; Indianapolis; and Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina, as well as four clinical care centers in Las Vegas, Denver, St. Louis and Indianapolis.
The distribution and clinical care centers are a piece of CarelonRx's expansion to support specialty pharmacy home delivery and specialty pharmacy medication management, the company said.
THE LARGER TREND
Elevance Health raked in $1.3 billion in profit during the third quarter, and while this was a decrease from the $1.6 billion posted in Q3 2022, overall revenue climbed year over year, hitting $42.5 billion compared to $39.9 billion last year.
The increase was primarily driven by higher premium revenue in the health benefits business, and growth in pharmacy product revenue in CarelonRx due to growth in external pharmacy members served, plus the acquisition of BioPlus in the first quarter.
Elevance Health announced the launch of healthcare services brand Carelon in June 2022. Carelon services range from research to integrated whole person care delivery, pharmacy, behavioral health and digitally enabled solutions.
Earlier this year, Elevance said it would be pursuing an acquisition of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana. The two organizations said they're "aligned in a mission" to improve access, quality and affordability for Louisianans.
ON THE RECORD
"Consumers deserve a positive, convenient experience when it comes to accessing their medications," said Paul Marchetti, president of CarelonRx. "Members should be able to easily compare costs of medications, speak to a staff member at any time of day to address questions, be able to track the status of their prescriptions, and have those prescriptions delivered on time to their doorsteps. CarelonRx Pharmacy will place the pharmacy experience directly into the hands of consumers to help enhance their healthcare journeys."
Twitter: @JELagasse
Email the writer: Jeff.Lagasse@himssmedia.com
