Prescription drug benefit
programs costs are projected
to increase at an annual rate
of nearly 20% in 2002!

The sharply rising costs of prescription drugs, added to the increased experience in pharmacy benefits utilization, challenges the creativity and strategic skills of every human resources executive nowadays. Keeping the employee benefits growth trends in a moderate pace is indeed a major task, which requires the support and partnership from specialized resources that offer comprehensive knowledge and a solid track record of hands-on experience in these endeavors.

Prescription drug benefit plan costs continue to have the highest trend rates and are projected to increase at an annual rate of nearly 20% in 2002. As we know, this increasing trend is due to:

• the utilization of newer and more expensive therapies,
• the effects of incorrect drug therapies management,
• the lack of appropriate disease management programs,
• an increasing level of fraud in the utilization of the benefit,
• the lack of auditing mechanisms to support the plan sponsor¹s   determinations and strategies.