Overview
TrueCost: Our proven, sustainable path to more transparent drug pricing
Easy to understand, net cost guarantees
TrueCost helps clients see the real cost of drugs and understand where drug costs come from, formulary impacts and the effects of client decisions.
Stabilized generic pricing
Volatility in generic script pricing has long been a pain point due to cross subsidization. TrueCost brings calm to the chaos by delivering predictable drug costs across all types — at the individual drug level. Stabilized pricing means more consistency and fewer surprises at the pharmacy counter.
A more flexible approach to address future changes in the pharmacy industry
We’ve created multiple options for clients to change their pricing model at their own pace.
TrueCost isn’t just a tweak — it’s a transformation. Take a look at the results.
TrueCost results
TrueCost keeps more members in their benefit plan
Early results suggest that members are more likely to fill their prescriptions under the TrueCost pricing model during the high-deductible phase of their health plans. It not only improves transparency, but access and affordability. This keeps more claims within the funded benefit plan when comparing walkaway rates to a conventional pricing model.
Six months of results shows:
- Increased prescription pickup rates from fewer members shopping off benefit
- Reduced walkaway rates and more stable prices at the pharmacy counter due to drug-level pricing
When we reduce the incentive for members to shop off benefit, they experience:
- Improved adherence when they take medications as prescribed
- Better outcomes when clinicians can monitor medication use
- Lower overall costs by making more informed decisions
Let's take a closer look
Increased pickup rates
We’re seeing an improvement in pickup rates (when members “pickup” their prescriptions at the pharmacy) across both high- and low-cost drugs. Pickup rates remained stable across different out-of-pocket price points, suggesting members feel the value of TrueCost pricing regardless of cost.
Decreased walkaway rates
Across both specialty and non-specialty drugs, walkaway rates (when members “walkaway” and leave their prescriptions at the pharmacy) have decreased under TrueCost — especially for specialty generics and non-specialty brands.
Specialty generics: 7.3% to 6.4%1
Non-specialty brands: 14.7% to 12.6%1
More stable prices
TrueCost anchors prices to an acquisition-based benchmark, significantly reducing pricing variability from other pricing indexes.
Stabilizing prices leads to better member experiences:
- Fewer surprises at the counter
- Better budgeting for plan sponsors
- Less incentive for members to shop around
For years, the pharmacy industry managed drug costs through market basket pricing and cross-subsidization. We believe there’s a better way for plan sponsors to accomplish their goals, without increasing their costs. Client adoption of TrueCost continues to grow.
They’re choosing TrueCost for:
- Price transparency
- Operational simplicity
- Cost predictability
Learn how we can customize pricing strategies that meet your needs.
The path to TrueCost
The path to TrueCost
Our full TrueCost pricing model is available for clients who want to move to a more transparent, acquisition-based pricing model. But TrueCost isn’t an all or nothing approach.
Changing drug pricing is a big step, so we offer flexible options tailored to your business objectives. As of Q1 2025, 82 percent of our commercial members are benefiting from rebalancing and drug-level rebate guarantees, two features of TrueCost.3 We’re committed to making drug pricing clearer and more controlled, and we’re making progress.
The first step: Rebalancing
TrueCost rebalances pricing across brands and generics, which lets ingredient costs and dispensing fees stand on their own. This prevents inflated ingredient costs (especially for specialty generics) and makes sure members directly benefit from negotiated discounts.
Next up: Drug-level rebate guarantees
Drug-level rebate guarantees are another TrueCost feature available to all clients. It provides:
- Greater visibility into the rebates that drugs actually earn
- Clearer understanding of formulary and client decision impacts, such as utilization management
- Flexibility to adjust to the market more quickly and easily, reducing the need for rebate credits
What is TrueCost?
CVS Caremark TrueCost: Anchoring drug prices to true costs
TrueCost is our response to the outdated cross-subsidized pricing model that makes drug pricing more transparent for clients, more predictable for members and more reliable for pharmacies.
