Pharmaceutical treatment for different types of epilepsy generally still relies on tried-and-true generics, despite recent efforts by drug manufacturers to introduce new branded medications into the mix, PBM insiders tell AIS Health.

Xcopri (cenobamate tablets), manufactured by SK Biopharmaceuticals Co., Ltd.'s subsidiary SK Life Science, Inc., launched in May for the treatment of partial-onset seizures. However, many plans haven't jumped to add Xcopri to their formularies, says Mesfin Tegenu, R.Ph., president of PerformRx.

A pilot telemedicine program dramatically reduced the amount of time it took for primary care physicians to consult with dermatologists on skin ailments but did not increase utilization or cost, according to a new study from Independence Blue Cross and the University of Pennsylvania, AIS Health reported.

"Dermatology is an ideal specialty for telemedicine due to the visual nature of the clinical assessment," says study co-author Aaron Smith-McLallen, director of health informatics and advanced analytics at Independence Blue Cross. "Using telemedicine, patients can get quality care very quickly and reduce wait times for patients with more acute needs that are not suitable for telemedicine intervention."

Large insurer-affiliated PBMs saw strong results for the third quarter of 2020, in several cases driving revenues for parent companies that are grappling with various disruptive effects of the coronavirus pandemic, AIS Health reported.

At CVS Health Corp., which reported earnings on Nov. 6, total revenues increased 3.5% year over year to $67 billion, and the company posted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.66, beating analysts' estimates.

CVS Health Corp.'s Caremark will exclude 57 medications from its 2021 formulary and add six back. Meanwhile, UnitedHealth Group’s OptumRx subsidiary will exclude 19 medications and products while adding back five and implementing restrictions on others, AIS Health reported.

Still, only a handful of products excluded by either PBM are likely to impact many members adversely, says Marc Guieb, a pharmacist and consultant with Milliman Inc. That also applies to the exclusions announced earlier by Cigna Corp.-owned PBM Express Scripts, he adds.

Health insurers are conducting outreach to people who may have been left without coverage as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, but experts say they may be partially stymied in their efforts to get people enrolled in new plans by the difficulties of operating within a pandemic environment, AIS Health reported.

AmeriHealth Caritas, which is run by Independence Blue Cross in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, says it has launched a series of videos designed to help potential Medicaid enrollees learn how they can apply.

Both UnitedHealthcare and Humana Inc. are rolling out new disease-specific care management programs aimed at providing patients with the tools they need to help control their chronic conditions, AIS Health reported.

The new initiatives highlight new digital and time-tested interpersonal ways of managing chronic conditions, observers say.

As more employers turn to COVID-19 testing to see if employees are safe to return to the workplace, the Trump administration has clarified that insurers must cover only physician-ordered "medically necessary" diagnostic and antibody tests, AIS Health reported.

The guidance, released jointly on June 23 by HHS, the Dept. of Labor and the Dept. of the Treasury, also says self-funded employer plans must pay for COVID-19 testing that’s medically appropriate.

Major PBMs reported strong results for the first quarter of 2020 as members rushed to fill prescriptions in March ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, financial analysts warn the pandemic could have unpredictable effects on PBMs' finances for the rest of 2020 and moving into 2021, AIS Health reported.

The 2021 PBM selling season could be disrupted in still-unknown ways, analysts said, and members are cutting back on routine physician visits and elective procedures, resulting in lower script volume overall.