But a closer look shows the business is far more attractive than those low margins would suggest. Included in Express Scripts’ revenue is the cost of the underlying drugs they sell. Thus Express Scripts generated gross profit of just $1.8 billion on total sales of $24.7 billion in the third quarter. Gross profit is revenue minus the cost of goods sold, but nothing else.
Tyrone’s Commentary:
The pharmacy benefit version of the “fee-only financial adviser” has emerged in response to a desire among certain pharmacy stakeholders to bring radical transparency to the drug pricing process. Although all PBM contracts with clients are viewable by both parties, PBMs operating under a non-fiduciary model often employ contractual wording that allows for pricing and reimbursement mechanisms that render clarity of expenditure and actual cost drivers to be elusive, and are designed to maximize the overall margin for the PBM. Under a fiduciary model, contracts negotiated between PBMs, clients, and pharmacies are designed to be as understandable and transparent as possible which, ostensibly, is meant to encourage the best therapeutic outcomes and financial interests for both plan sponsors and plan participants.
In general, however, the pharmacy-benefits manager doesn’t actually take delivery of the drug. That means these companies don’t spend much on fixed assets, which keeps selling and administrative costs, as well as depreciation and amortization charges, very low.
