The retail cost of Sprintec is $10.04 but OptumRx required the pharmacy to collect $50 from the patient. OptumRx contributed nothing for the drug but collected the additional $38.35 clawback from the pharmacy, almost four times the retail cost of Sprintec. An unnamed pharmacist provided the claim information.
Watch this short video for a demonstration on how clawbacks work.
This billing practice is known as a “clawback” and you may have no idea it’s happening because pharmacists aren’t yet allowed in many states to tell you under a gag order in place that restricts pharmacists from telling patients they are being overcharged. These clawback monies are a contributing factor to significant overpayment for pharmacy benefits management services.
Clawback revenue also plays a big role in the unchecked service fees to non-fiduciary PBMs who rely on them to cover overhead. For self-insured employers, it’s all about the contract so if you enter into an agreement with a PBM that does not drive radical transparency you leave employees holding the bag.
