Seminar

Past

Contracting over Rebates: Formulary Design and Pharmaceutical Spending

EEE/IO joint seminar

Robin Lee

  • Date28 May 2024
  • Time 15h30 - 16h50
  • Room Auditorium 4

Abstract

We investigate how formularies used by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to steer consumer demand can constrain spending by affecting manufacturer rebates for branded drugs. We present a theoretical model of multidimensional contracting in which a PBM offers multiple drug manufacturers a menu of formulary-contingent rebate payments and then selects a formulary. We estimate how formulary placement affects drug demand for statins using data from Princeton University, a large employer that contracts with a single PBM to offer prescription drug coverage to its employees. Using our model and demand estimates, we predict the magnitude of rebates with one preferred and one non-preferred tier; we also examine the impact of changing the number of drug tiers or allowing for complete exclusion. Our predicted magnitudes align with aggregate rebate data, and we predict that allowing a PBM to flexibly place branded drugs on preferred- and non-preferred tiers can substantially increase rebate payments.

Related document(s)

Other seminars

To be announced

  • Seminar

  • Econometrics and Empirical Economics Seminar

  • Date 18 May 2027

  • Place Auditorium 4

  • Speaker or organiser Andres Santos (University California - Los Angeles)

Details

To be announced

  • Seminar

  • Econometrics and Empirical Economics Seminar

  • Date 11 May 2027

  • Place Auditorium 4

  • Speaker or organiser Oscar Volpe (Harvard University)

Details

To be announced

  • Seminar

  • Econometrics and Empirical Economics Seminar

  • Date 27 April 2027

  • Place Auditorium 4

  • Speaker or organiser Andreas Fagereng (BI Norwegian Business School)

Details