Wholesale retailer Costco is expanding its footprint in the pharmacy benefit management business by purchasing a minor stake in a PBM owned by St. Louis-based hospital system SSM Health. SSM Health said the deal would allow the not-for-profit system to tap into Costco’s expertise and expand its transparent PBM model, called Navitus Health Solutions, to more people. The deal also includes a specialty pharmacy subsidiary. Costco, meanwhile, could benefit if Navitus members are steered toward Costco stores and clinics, analysts at investment banking and advisory firm Evercore ISI wrote in a research note Wednesday. The retailer could also increase the reach of its own internal PBM business, depending on whether Costco’s own internal PBM integrates with SSM Health’s.
Read the full article: Costco Buys Stake in SSM Health Pharmacy Benefit Manager //
Source: https://www.modernhealthcare.com/mergers-acquisitions/costco-buys-stake-ssm-health-pharmacy-benefit-manager