Date of Award
2021
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
M.A.
Department
Economics
First Advisor
Henning Schwardt
Second Advisor
Yavuz Yasar
Third Advisor
Chiara Piovani
Fourth Advisor
Alejandro Cerón Valdes
Keywords
Health care, Pharmacy
Abstract
On average, prescription drugs cost US consumers more than any other developed country in the world. US drug makers claim that intermediaries in the prescription drug supply chain, companies called pharmacy benefit managers (PBM), are forcing them to increase their drug prices. PBMs counter that the discounts they receive from drug makers are channeled to insurers. This thesis will examine the role that PBMs play in the prescription drug supply chain and determine what effect they have on drug prices. This thesis will utilize a comparative static model, Structure, Conduct, Performance (SCP) framework to analyze the pharmaceutical manufacturing and the PBM markets. Given the limitations of comparative static analysis, this thesis will critically evaluate the conclusion of the SCP framework and provide a more contextualized alternative. While the PBMs profit from high drug prices, drug manufacturers are the leading cause behind increasing drug costs in the US.
Publication Statement
Copyright is held by the author. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Recommended Citation
Mattis, George II, "The Place and Role of Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) Companies in US Healthcare System" (2021). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1958.
https://digitalcommons.du.edu/etd/1958
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
Rights holder
George Mattis, II
File size
76 pgs
Copyright date
2021
File format
application/pdf
Language
en
Discipline
Health care management
Included in
Health and Medical Administration Commons, Other Economics Commons, Pharmacy Administration, Policy and Regulation Commons