UnitedAg

As a member-owned association, UnitedAg empowers the agricultural community through comprehensive health benefits, legislative advocacy, and regulatory compliance. They view their vendors as strategic partners, requiring the same commitment to excellence that they provide their members.

Recognizing the limitations of legacy pharmacy benefit managers, UnitedAg made the proactive decision to transition to a modern PBM. This shift reflects their leadership in the industry and unwavering commitment to delivering superior value to their plan members.

The Challenge: Cost Containment without Compromising Member Experience

Years ago, in the face of unsustainable doubling pharmacy costs, UnitedAg made a decisive move to abandon the opaque rebate games of its legacy pharmacy benefit manager (PBM). Since their initial transparent partner exited the PBM market, UnitedAg decided to advance its strategy for cost containment and elevate member experience. 

"Our members are our most valuable asset, and we are dedicated to providing them with the best possible benefits," said their president and CEO, Kirti Mutatkar.

It wasn’t just about making a PBM switch; it was about creating a plan designed specifically for their members. 

Due Diligence

The UnitedAg leadership team strategically and thoroughly evaluated six PBMs leveraging the expertise of their general counsel and analytical teams to narrow it down to two finalists. The finalists’ proposals were then scrutinized by their board of directors.

“We understand how rebate models can be played around with,” said Sachin Varma, UnitedAg’s Chief Underwriting and Product Officer. “We were clear, we only wanted to work with a 100% rebate pass-through model and a PBM with a clear admin fee.”

Advocating for their members, they dedicated months of data analysis—down to the claim level, assessing drug costs, and member experience performance. “We wanted to ensure the best plan for the best rate possible,” said Varma.

The Solution: Designing pharmacy benefits tailored to UnitedAg members

In the final round, UnitedAg selected SmithRx as their PBM for two key reasons: SmithRx’s accountable business model and the companies’ shared mission to transform healthcare benefits. The SmithRx and UnitedAg teams began their collaboration immediately so they’d be adequately prepared for launch. Together, they built a transparent plan that minimizes member disruption to 1%, provides clarity for members, and lowers per member per month costs.

"SmithRx’s innovative model will not only help us manage our costs more effectively but, more importantly, will empower our members to make better decisions about their health,” said Mutatkar.

The SmithRx team ensured UnitedAg members, particularly those in underpopulated areas, received clear communication and access to their pharmacy benefits. To meet members where they are, SmithRx provided multi-channel and multi-lingual communication solutions. Committed to improved member experiences, SmithRx provides ongoing performance reports, which are especially crucial during the transition period.

By empowering local pharmacies and leveraging modern home delivery partners, SmithRx ensures every member, no matter how remote, secures timely access to critical medications and clinical counsel. Advocating for greater access, SmithRx also contracts with identified out-of-network pharmacies.

SmithRx and UnitedAg created a plan for their members, rather than forcing a plan to work for their members. That’s the intelligence behind the SmithRx Drug Pathways Engine (DPE). It’s designed to meet the needs of the employer’s most valuable asset: their people. While the pharmaceutical industry rapidly changes, the cost-containment solution continually analyzes the market for the clinically appropriate alternative drug, agnostically compares sourcing options, factoring in rebates and network discounts to guarantee the lowest net costs. Savings are delivered seamlessly to members through empathetic, end-to-end guidance from their dedicated patient advocates.

Looking Ahead: Cultivating a Partnership Sustainable Amid  Market Shifts and Growth

UnitedAg looks forward to their upcoming expansion to Oregon and Colorado while fulfilling their mission to their current members in California and Arizona. SmithRx will be supporting them through their growth. With the SmithRx Drug Pathways Engine, UnitedAg can be confident that they consistently have the lowest net cost and a better experience for every member.

Like UnitedAg, America’s employers are shifting away from the PBM status quo. They’re no longer choosing a pharmacy benefits plan just to painfully force it to work for their members. It’s time to work with a fully aligned, modern PBM that understands and meets your members’ needs. 

Controlling costs should never compromise the value of your benefits. Partner with a model designed for both. Discover the savings SmithRx can generate for your organization.