SmithRx

Ever wonder why we’re called SmithRx? 🔨 It’s a name forged with purpose: inspired by blacksmiths, built to last, and rooted in the belief that pharmacy benefits deserve better. Read the full story behind our name and the mission it represents. ⬇️ #PBMs #ModernPBM #PharmacyBenefits #HealthcareTransformation #SmithRx

🆕✨ New Series: Modern PBM 101 with Alan Pannier, Pharm D,MBA ▶️ In our first episode, Alan breaks down what true transparency really means in pharmacy benefits. Too often, PBMs claim transparency but deliver only shades of it, with partial disclosures that leave patients and employers without real clarity. At SmithRx, we believe anything less than 100% transparency isn’t transparency at all. A truly modern PBM ensures: ✔ Patients know the actual price of their medications ✔ Plan sponsors see the real flow of dollars across the supply chain ✔ No hidden incentives, no conflicts of interest 📺 Watch Alan’s take on transparency below. ⬇️ ✅ Subscribe to SmithRx so you don’t miss next month’s episode. #PBMReform #PBMTransparency #HealthcareTransparency #ModernPBM101 #ModernPBM #PharmacyBenefits #SmithRx

📩 Don’t miss this resource: What does it really take to lead a smooth PBM transition during renewal season? Confidence starts with asking the right questions at the right time. Our PBM Transition Primer download is your free guide to: ✔️ Know what to ask your PBM at every stage ✔️ Avoid common pitfalls during renewal season ✔️ Keep members supported from planning to go-live You’ll also get access to the full recording of our recent Full Disclosure webinar: Change Happens. Disruption Doesn’t Have To. 👉 Get your copy: Download link is in the comments section. #HRLeaders #BenefitsSeason #EmployerBenefits #PBMs #ModernPBM #SmithRx

🤠 Everything’s bigger in Texas! This week we’re at the Transformation CFO Assembly with The Millennium Alliance in Dallas connecting with financial leaders to tackle some of the BIGGEST challenges employers face in pharmacy benefits today. SmithRx team members will be there to answer questions and share how modern, transparent PBM solutions can help lower fiduciary risk, strengthen organizations, and ensure members receive the care they deserve. If you’re attending, come say hi to: 🔸 Jake Frenz, Founder & CEO 🔸 Ty Perry, VP, Sales 🔸 Caroline Kupchella, MPH, Program Lead, Office of the CEO Plus, join Jake on Day 2 for a CFO roundtable: 🎤 Reducing Pharmacy Benefit Cost & Improving Fiduciary Alignment 🗓️ September 10th at 11:55am 📍 Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star, Dallas, TX #MillenniumLive #Dallas #CFOs #HealthcareTransparency #PBMReform #HR #SmithRx

📈 GLP-1 demand has exploded in recent years, but do you know just how fast it’s growing? ⬇️ Tap a reaction below to lock in your guess, then check your answer in the post. . . . ➡️ Answer: According to a 2025 whitepaper from FAIR Health, Inc.: The share of adult patients prescribed GLP-1 drugs grew from 0.9% in 2019 to 4.0% in 2024—a 364% relative increase. This surge is reshaping pharmacy benefit plans, creating new cost and care challenges for brokers, employers, and members. As more patients turn to GLP-1s, it’s crucial to balance access, affordability, and clinical outcomes. Employers need better tools to evaluate value, ensure appropriate use, and support members on their health journeys. At SmithRx, we help employers navigate rising GLP-1 demand with thoughtful, patient-centered strategies: ✅ Claims analysis to assess plan exposure ✅ Transparent, evidence-based prior authorization criteria ✅ Support for clinically effective, lower-cost alternatives ✅ Telehealth and lifestyle coaching options ✅ 100% pass-through pricing—no hidden markups Have you seen an increase in questions about GLP-1s recently? Let us know in the comments! #BenefitsLeaders #HealthcareResearch #GLP1s #SmithRx 📝 Source: FAIR Health, Inc., “Obesity and GLP-1 Drugs: A Claims-Based Analysis,” May 27, 2025 (White Paper)

💉 With GLP-1 use for obesity treatment up 587% in just five years, demand is rising fast. Employees and job candidates are asking about coverage, but how do you provide access without driving up costs? If you missed Alissa Johnson, PharmD, MBA, BCPS’s session at the Salt Lake SHRM Annual 401(k) & Benefits Summit, this recap is a must-read. She shares what HR teams should know about GLP-1s and strategies that lead to smarter, more sustainable coverage decisions.👇 #GLP1s #PharmacyBenefits #EmployeeBenefits #SaltLakeSHRM #HRLeaders #ModernPBMs #SmithRx

♥️ Pharmacy benefit managers were supposed to make drug access easier and more affordable. 💔 Instead, legacy PBMs added layers of complexity, opacity, and misaligned incentives. Fortunately, there’s a better path forward for plan sponsors. Modern PBMs are emerging with a new focus: alignment with employers, members, and every stakeholder in the pharmacy ecosystem. What does that look like in practice? 🎙️ In a recent episode of the Millennium Live podcast, Vidya Drego, VP of Marketing at SmithRx, shared the 5 pillars that define a modern PBM, and how SmithRx is leading the way. 1️⃣ Aligned 2️⃣ Transparent 3️⃣ Executional 4️⃣ Simple 5️⃣ Consistent 📊 Swipe through for a quick breakdown 👇 Blog + full podcast linked in comments The Millennium Alliance #SmithRx #ModernPBM #PharmacyBenefits #MillenniumAlliance #HRLeaders #PBMs #FiduciaryAlignment #HealthcareInnovation

🚨 Some employers are facing lawsuits over their PBM decisions. Here’s what benefit leaders can learn from their experience: It’s not about poor coverage. It’s about alleged breaches of fiduciary duty for failing to manage pharmacy benefits in the best interest of plan members. 💡 Why?  Under ERISA, employers are obligated to act solely in the interest of plan participants. But when you work with PBMs whose incentives reward higher drug prices, you’re not just overspending, you’re also putting your fiduciary status at risk. As Alan Pannier, Pharm D,MBA, SVP of Product Strategy at SmithRx, said on  Health Care Rounds: "It's been a wake-up call for benefit leaders… Are you being a good steward of your healthcare spend and your healthcare benefits?” 📋 If you’re finalizing vendor decisions for 2025, here’s what to look for: ☑️ Choose an aligned PBM → No pharmacy ownership → No spread pricing → Transparent pass-through contracts ☑️ Measure what actually matters → Forget AWP discounts and rebate games → Focus on per member per month (PMPM) cost What it looks like in practice: 🟥 Legacy PBMs: ~$120-250+ PMPM 🟨 Pass-through PBMs: ~$100 PMPM 🟩 SmithRx: ~$80–85 PMPM 🎥 Watch the episode from Alan’s appearance on the Health Care Rounds: A Darwin Research Group podcast, hosted by John Marchica at Darwin Research Group. ⬇️ (Link in comments) #PBMs #EmployeeBenefits #FiduciaryDuty #ERISA #BenefitsRenewal #PharmacyBenefits #SmithRx #HealthCareRounds

⚠️ Would your health plan survive an ERISA audit? According to new research shared by BenefitsPRO, 3️⃣7️⃣ % of employers don’t benchmark what they’re paying against alternatives, and 3️⃣3️⃣% don’t request bids from multiple coverage providers. Even among employers who do review their plan annually, most skip core best practices: ▶️ Few use industry-standard performance metrics ▶️ Most do very little to measure the member experience Many plan sponsors are falling short of basic fiduciary duties under ERISA, and likely don’t even realize it. That’s a major compliance risk that exposes them to potential lawsuits, audits, and penalties. It's also a cost and member experience failure. ▶️ Without data, there’s no diligence. ▶️ Without diligence, there’s no defense. At SmithRx, we believe transparency, member experience, and measurable value shouldn’t require extra effort, fees, or negotiation. We proactively make your data accessible, so you can make informed decisions, meet your fiduciary duty, and deliver better outcomes. 💡 Read the full article — link in comments ⬇️ #ModernPBM #ERISA #FiduciaryDuty #BenefitsLeaders #HR #PBMs #SmithRx

↓📨↓ Just dropped: Benefits Blueprint - August edition!  This month’s issue is all about giving you more control over your pharmacy benefits. You’ll learn: ‣ 🔁 What a smooth PBM transition really look like ‣ 📊 How HR teams use reporting to drive better outcomes ‣ 🤝 What support should you expect from a modern PBM partner ‣ ⚖️ What’s actually happening with PBM reform and and how it could impact your plan Plus: Watch Episode 1 of Full Disclosure on demand, and grab a free downloadable primer to guide your next PBM evaluation. Read it now ⬇️ #PBMs #BenefitsLeaders #EmployerBenefits #ModernPBM #BenefitsRenewals #BenefitsBlueprint #SmithRx