Specialty Drugs: White Bagging or Brown Bagging; There's No Free Lunch Either Way

SPECIALTY DRUGS: WHITE BAGGING OR BROWN BAGGING; THERE'S NO FREE LUNCH EITHER WAY

Jeremy Knopp, Blueprint Medicines, Jay Weaver, Gallagher, and Joe D'Angelo, Gallagher

Increasingly, insurance payers are demanding that clinics “white bag” medications. White bagging is the dispensing of medication from a specialty pharmacy directly to a healthcare provider. Typically the patient’s insurance company dictates which pharmacy can be used to dispense the drug. 

Brown bagging is a common term for the practice of patients picking up drugs through their pharmacy benefit. Brown-bagging requires the patient to purchase the specialty medication, and then take it to their provider for administration.

Insurance companies are increasingly driving the adoption of white bagging. While the insurance companies tout cost savings as the reason, patients may end up paying more out-of-pocket for these drugs.

This webinar explores the evolving landscape of medical channel specialty medications, including high-cost rare-disease medications. It also explores various types of specialty drug distribution channels including buy-and-bill, specialty pharmacy carve-outs, and alternate funding services.

Takeaways Include: 

• Learn about some of the regulatory controversies within specific alternate drug distribution programs
• Understand the patient experience in some alternative drug distribution programs and how that may impact patient care
• Discuss potential hidden costs within white-bagging services and sustainability challenges

For Health Action Council members only
SHRM, HRCI, and CEBS credit