PBMs Pumping Brakes on Autoimmune Drug Expenditures

A few years ago, the costs associated with treating autoimmune diseases were a fringe concern—small potatoes next to cancer or diabetes drugs. Now some evidence suggests that the prevalence of diseases caused by errant immune systems may be inching up. The may must be emphasized because solid prevalence statistics for autoimmune diseases are hard to come by. But no hedge is needed when it comes to this: The number (at least 15 and counting), utilization, and cost of the medications used to treat the autoimmune diseases is climbing—and climbing fast.