UnitedHealth’s OptumRx taking additional steps to lower cost of insulin

Optum Rx, a pharmacy services company that is part of UnitedHealth (UNH), announced additional actions to make insulin more affordable, moving several rapid-, short- and long-acting insulins to tier one, which offers the lowest cash price consumers pay. In all, Optum Rx will shift eight products, including all short- and rapid-acting insulins, to tier one, or “preferred” status on standard formularies. Three manufacturers will have products added to tier one, including Eli Lilly (LLY), Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Sanofi (SNY). “I’ve seen firsthand how high prices for insulin and other necessary medications can cause patients to limit or skip doses,” said Dr. Patrick Conway, CEO of Optum Rx. “Medicine that people can’t afford is useless, and by taking this important next step to change our formulary, we will lower costs and improve access for more people who need this life-saving medication. Our goal is to make all essential medicines affordable.”