Study: Blue Cross Backed Prescription Drug Initiative Drives Down Out-of-Pocket Costs by 64%
Blue Daily
| 3 min read
Prescription drug prices are too high. But a partnership launched by Blue Cross Blue Shield is driving down out of pocket costs for a medication used to treat prostate cancer.
The Prescription Drug Problem
Nearly one in three Americans say they’ve skipped or rationed their medication because of the price tag, and 80% of Americans say drug prices in the U.S. are “unreasonable.”
For too long, drug companies have set the rules and driven up prices with little competition or regulation. That’s a big reason why health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs keep rising.
Prescription drugs account for a significant share of total health care spending. In 2024, 21 cents of every premium dollar collected went to prescription drugs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Yet for many of the most expensive medications, there’s little to no competition — keeping prices high and limiting access to lifesaving treatments.
Innovation in Action: CivicaScript® is Changing the Game
That’s why Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan joined 22 other Blue plans to launch CivicaScript®, a nonprofit initiative aimed at developing and manufacturing generic prescription drugs that are too expensive and too monopolized. CivicaScript®, is a model of innovative partnerships that break through the pharmaceutical supply chain to make drugs more affordable.
And it’s working.
A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst found that patients using CivicaScript® to access a medication used to treat prostate cancer paid just $45 per month, compared to $126 per month for the same medication from other manufacturers. That’s a 64% savings, or nearly $1,000 in annual savings per patient.
Affordable Access with Impact
CivicaScript®’s model is rooted in transparency and cost-efficiency. By removing unnecessary markups and prioritizing patient access, this initiative is making a meaningful difference for the people we serve-providing direct savings.
This is just the beginning. CivicaScript® is planning to launch more affordable medications by fall 2025, with more savings for patients and employers alike.
Our Commitment: Affordability for All
At Blue Cross, we’re committed to making prescription drugs — and health care overall — more affordable. Earlier this year, we launched an affordability content platform to share what is driving health care costs higher and what Blue Cross is doing about it.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association recently released a roadmap that could save the country nearly $1 trillion over 10 years. A key part of that roadmap is ending Big Pharma’s use of anti-competitive tactics like patent thicketing, which block lower-cost generic drugs from entering the market.
Innovation like CivicaScript® is proof that affordability isn’t just a talking point — it’s a priority. And we’re proud to be leading the charge to ensure the health care system works for and is affordable for everyone, not just a few.
Learn more about what Blue Cross is doing to make health care more affordable at www.mibluedaily.com/affordability.
Photo credit: Getty Images
