How We Transformed Pharmacy Benefits for the City of Grand Rapids

The City of Grand Rapids came to us with a significant challenge: between 2018 and 2023, their pharmacy spend increased by 59%, despite having only 5,000 lives on their plan. This dramatic rise, driven by both utilization increases and new drug classes like GLP1s, prompted them to seek our solution for their self-funded plan.

The Challenge

The city wasn't just dealing with rising costs. As a municipality with a large union population, including police and fire departments, they faced multiple challenges that their traditional PBM couldn't solve:

• Escalating pharmacy spend threatening budget sustainability
• Poor member service experiences creating friction with union groups
• Limited disclosure of plan data making it difficult to identify problem areas
• Complex stakeholder management across various union groups

Our DisclosedRx Solution

We offered the City of Grand Rapids a fundamentally different approach with our Fiduciary PBM model. Our commitment goes beyond cost savings - we deliver Full Disclosure at every step:

Full Disclosure at Every Step

• 100% pass-through pricing - clients pay what we pay
• Complete rebate clarity - no hidden fees or retained rebates
• Single, clear administrative fee structure
• No spread pricing or shell games

Our Member-First Implementation

We ensured a smooth transition through proactive communication and stakeholder engagement:

• Early involvement of union representatives in the decision-making process
• Proactive pharmacy notifications through email and fax blasts
• Clear communication about the January 1, 2024 transition
• Creation of a healthcare committee with union stakeholder representation

Results Without Disruption

What makes our work with the City of Grand Rapids particularly notable is that we achieved significant savings without:

• Changing members' existing medications
• Forcing alternative therapies
• Disrupting member care

These savings came purely through our Fiduciary and Full Disclosure approach and improved pharmacy benefits management.

Innovation Through Collaboration

A key to the program's success was our support in establishing a healthcare committee, formally recognized in union contracts. This committee:

• Meets quarterly or more frequently as needed
• Enables rapid response to emerging challenges
• Facilitates ongoing innovation in benefits management
• Ensures continuous stakeholder engagement

The DisclosedRx Difference

This success story exemplifies our core values.

As The Fiduciary and The Fully Disclosed PBM?, we are contractually bound to act in our clients' best interests, ensuring decisions are made to benefit their bottom line and their members' wellbeing. Our commitment to 24/7 member service excellence ensures that support is always available when needed.

Through our enhanced specialty cost control programs and Agile Channel Management approach, we consistently deliver optimal savings while maintaining the highest level of care.

The City of Grand Rapids case demonstrates that when pharmacy benefits management is built on Full Disclosure and fiduciary responsibility, everyone wins - the organization, the unions, and most importantly, the members who depend on these critical benefits.

Ready to Transform Your Pharmacy Benefits?

Connect with us on LinkedIn to learn more about how we can bring the same results to your organization.

Our leadership team is ready to share insights about our Fiduciary PBM model and discuss your specific challenges. Find us at DisclosedRx on LinkedIn and start a conversation about your pharmacy benefits future.

Whether you're facing rising specialty drug costs, seeking better member service, or looking for Full Disclosure in your pharmacy benefits program, we're here to help. Let's connect and explore how our proven approach can work for you.