Express Scripts FoundationResearch & Consumerology
Select Step Therapy
Our step therapy program offers tremendous savings to clients and members as one of our most effective trend management tools in combating the high cost of medications.
Like our other step therapy programs, Select Step Therapy manages out prescription-drug waste within specific therapy classes by guiding patients to frontline medications (generics and formulary brands) before "stepping up" to more costly backup medications.
Why Select Step Therapy Can Work for Your Organization
- Choice-based program with voluntary member participation
- Member incentives like zero-dollar copayment for some medications
- Can implement any time (for new step therapy programs)
- Works with all 50+ step therapy programs
- Increases prescription savings while avoiding member disruption
- Removal of grandfathering maximizes savings in current programs
Using Consumerology®, we recognized the opportunity to increase plan savings without the potential member discontent associated with the removal of grandfathering from current step therapy programs.
In 2010, an employer client in the financial services industry worked with Express Scripts to launch Select Step Therapy to close the intent-behavior gap for more than 170,000 plan members. We sent letters notifying members of their opt-out deadline, avoiding the need for grandfathering. This is important because grandfathered members (utilizers of nonpreferred drugs) account for a large portion of the savings opportunity. More than 93% of members stayed in step therapy for the targeted therapy classes.
Get Started with Select Step Therapy
If you are interested in talking about cost savings through effective drug mix management, contact us.
