ClearScript: Innovating Transparency from the Start

There’s a lot of buzz in the media lately about Pharmacy Benefit Managers and their controversial business practices. Critics specifically highlight pricing games and prioritizing profits over patients. Calls for greater transparency in contracting and pricing are intensifying and putting pressure on PBMs to reform. The “Big Three” PBMs – CVS, Optum, and Express Scripts – in particular are facing mounting scrutiny from both regulators and the public.

Amidst all this controversy, it has become even more apparent that ClearScript is, and has always been, different from the Big Three. In 2005, Fairview Health System launched ClearScript after discovering that the big PBM administering their employee prescription drug benefit was charging the plan significantly more than they were reimbursing their Fairview-owned pharmacies and pocketing the difference. The lack of pricing and contracting transparency led Fairview to terminate the relationship with the PBM, one of the Big Three, and built ClearScript as a transparent PBM solution.

So, what sets ClearScript apart from the Big Three? When you choose ClearScript over the Big Three, it’s far more than a business transaction—it’s a partnership where your plan’s success, your business, and your employees’ well-being truly matter. And beyond that, three distinct differences set us apart from the industry giants.

Healthcare roots. Unlike PBMs accountable to shareholders or private equity firms, ClearScript prioritizes clinical outcomes. As an industry-leading, non-profit health system, Fairview has instilled in us an unyielding focus on patient health. Our leaders are pharmacists focused on clinical excellence and strive to reintegrate pharmacy into PBM.

Clear and transparent pricing and contract terms. As pioneers of transparency, we have always offered a transparency model, passing discounts and rebates on to our clients. We fully disclose our fees, eliminate hidden costs, and remove pricing ambiguity. We offer claim-level rebate detail with a monthly payment standard and advance payment option, ensuring you know exactly what you’re paying for, without waiting months to receive rebates.

Client commitment and flexible program options. The large PBMs focus on meeting shareholder needs and often adopt an aggressive approach to their bottom line. They drive maximum script fulfillment to their own mail service and specialty pharmacies to maximize profits. While ClearScript partners with Fairview-owned Mail Service and Specialty pharmacies, we do not restrict our clients with similar resources from using other pharmacies. That flexibility, uncommon in the PBM industry, exemplifies our patient-first mentality.

The Fairview Difference – Did you know?

ClearScript combines Fairview’s extensive healthcare excellence with expertise in pharmacy benefits. Our seamless integration with healthcare professionals ensures patient-focused care and clinical excellence. As a wholly owned business unit of Fairview Health System’s Fairview Pharmacy Services (FPS), ClearScript offers access to pharmacy experts and industry-leading care across a wide range of pharmacy services, including:

• Fairview Specialty Pharmacy (FSP), a nationally recognized leader known for its excellence, clinical expertise, and high standard for care delivery. FSP’s team of specialized pharmacists, nurses, and technicians works one-on-one with patients and providers to tailor services to the unique needs of people taking high-cost specialty medications.

• Fairview Home Infusion, a patient-focused home infusion therapy provider for adults and children of all ages for 35 years. A dedicated team of pharmacy technicians, pharmacists, nurses, and dieticians help members get a range of medications when and where they need them – from routine antibiotics to IVIG, Biologics, TPN, Chemotherapy, and more.

• Fairview Infusion Consulting Services (FICS), a consulting services organization, assists other health systems in building or improving infusion strategies within infusion centers or for in-home infusion. The team leverages its expertise as a top health-system-owned infusion program to help other health systems develop their own comprehensive approach to infused therapies.

• Fairview Compounding Pharmacy, an extensive compounding and consulting services pharmacy, with a state-of-the-art facility, sterile, non-sterile, and hazardous capabilities, expert staff, pharmacist oversight, and a board-approved and regulated compounding pharmacy. Their technical skills and experience enable them to prepare even the most complicated drug formulations.

• Fairview Mail Service Pharmacy, a URAC-accredited, full-service pharmacy specializing in filling prescriptions for home delivery to patients nationwide.

• Fairview Retail Pharmacies, comprehensive providers of pharmacy services. With over thirty regional community pharmacies, patients take advantage of easy refill options, vaccinations, free blood pressure checks, and free delivery through Fairview Mail Service Pharmacy.

• Acute Care Pharmacies, located within 11 health system facilities, respond to pharmacy clinical consults onsite daily to assist in the medical care of patients.

• Medication Therapy Management (MTM), a team of pharmacists helping people manage their chronic health conditions through virtual and in-person consultation. They bring the proven benefits and cost savings of MTM to organizations and employees, no matter where they are located.

• IntegraDose, a Fairview organization whose mission is to compound sterile products for other hospitals and surgery centers, ensuring reliable supply, low cost, and high quality. Today, IntegraDose’s new state-of-the-art 503B compounding facility meets or exceeds all regulations with five cleanrooms and both onsite and external lab testing to guarantee quality before release.

As a PBM integrated within FPS, ClearScript leverages healthcare professionals’ frontline expertise across the pharmacy spectrum. Whether your plan designates using your own pharmacies or Fairview Pharmacies’ resources, ClearScript supports your goals.

Can the Big Three PBMs match it? We don’t think so.