Pharmacy Benefit Managers: FEHBP Plans Satisfied with Savings and Services, but Retail Pharmacies Have Concerns

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program's (FEHBP) pharmacy benefits, focusing on: (1) why FEHBP plans have contracted with pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) to provide pharmacy benefits; (2) what types of services and savings the PBMs provide FEHBP plans; (3) how FEHBP plans evaluate PBM customer service; and (4) retail pharmacists' concerns about the quality of PBM pharmacy services and the effect of some PBM practices on the retail pharmacy business.