December
The Rising Cost of Generic Drugs is Even Puzzling Experts
WITF 50
For decades, generic prescription drugs have been considered the bargains of the pharmaceutical world. An industry group says Americans have saved more than $1.5 trillion in the past 10 years on brand name drugs, thanks to generics. But in recent months, prices on some of the most popular drugs have soared, and experts are trying to figure out why.
December
Catamaran Keeps Focus on Specialty Pharmaceuticals
The Wall Street Journal
Chief Executive Mark Thierer is spending heavily on the company's biotech and specialty pharmacy business, because that's the area driving drug costs higher.
November
Generic Drug Prices Skyrocket in Past Year
The Chicago Tribune
After calling for a routine prescription refill, Craig Elliott got a rude shock: His bill was going up fivefold. The 44-year-old piano tuner and guitar instructor from Elgin, who has health insurance, used to pay $20 for a three-month supply of his generic epilepsy drug as a member of Walgreen's Prescription Savings Club.
November
Catamaran Extends Reach with Salveo Specialty Pharmacy Acquisition
Specialty Pharmacy Times
The Catamaran Corporation expanded further in the rapidly changing specialty pharmacy marketplace following a major acquisition last month.
November
Sandoval praises company starting to build at tech park
Las Vegas Review-Journal
Gov. Brian Sandoval hailed Catamaran LLC as "exactly the kind of company we're trying to attract to Nevada" at a Friday event on a picture-perfect day at the Harry Reid Research and Technology Park in the southwest valley.
October
Pharma Pricing Strategies: Prior authorizations, specialty pharmacies seen as solutions
Managed Healthcare Executive
Spending on specialty pharmaceuticals has been skyrocketing in the United States, and shows no signs of slowing down. In 2012, the U.S. spent about $87 billion on specialty pharmaceuticals--complex drugs and biologics that target relatively small portions of the population and often require special patient monitoring--and spending is expected to reach nearly $400 billion by 2020, according to a study by United Health's Center for Health Reform and Modernization.
September
Chief analytics officer: The ultimate big data job?
Computerworld
The C-suite may need a bigger boardroom. As organizations expand their executive teams with new C-level titles that underscore their digital transformations in-progress, the role of chief analytics officer is gaining traction.
September
The Future of Formularies
Managed Healthcare Executive
The concept of a drug formulary developed alongside the emergence of managed care in the 1970s as a means of describing which drugs are covered by health plans and their costs to members. But as specialty drugs consume more and more of total healthcare costs, today's traditional three-tier formulary might become a thing of the past.
September
2014 Who's Who in Chicago Business
Crain's Chicago Business
Mark Thierer, Catamaran's Chairman and CEO, was recognized in Crain's 2014 list of Who's Who in Chicago Business. This annual Crain's directory of Chicago's movers and shakers lists the people whose names you need to know, from Fortune 500 CEOs to civic leaders to philanthropists.
August
Orphan Drug Costs Continue to Push Spending Limits
Specialty Pharmacy Times
The cost of orphan drugs continues to be an issue for the various stakeholders in the specialty market, while the impending arrival of biosimilars may not offer the significant cost relief initially anticipated, according to a recent drug trend update from the Catamaran Corporation.
August
100 Fastest-Growing Companies
Fortune
Pharmacy benefits manager's prescription: a steady dose of acquisitions. The formula seems to be working with profits vaulting 125% last year.
August
Pharmacies Turn Drugs Into Profits, Pitting Insurers vs. Compounders
The New York Times
It may be the biggest thing in diaper rash treatment, a custom-made product to soothe a baby's bottom at the eye-popping price of $1,600. This is no Desitin or Balmex, or any other brand found in stores. This cream is blended to order in a pharmacist's lab.
August
Affordable Care Act Projected to Drive Up Prescription Drug Spending in Coming Years
Specialty Pharmacy Times
While the overall benefits of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are still hotly debated, there is little doubt the landmark legislation will lead to a boon for the pharmaceutical industry and the specialty drug market, according to the latest drug trend update from the Catamaran Corporation.
August
Data, models, innovation and the art of knowing the industry
Chicago Tribune
Andrea Marks, chief analytics officer at pharmacy-benefit-management company Catamaran, discusses data analytics, models that are "always learning and picking up new information," knowing the industry, and innovation six months and 10 years from now.
August
Health IT will drive closer alignment for all stakeholders
Managed Healthcare Executive
Across the country, healthcare leaders are working to re-engineer our healthcare system and drive much-needed improvements in access, coordination, quality and cost-effectiveness. Integration and interoperability are critical to this effort.
July
20 Ways to Reduce Readmissions
Managed Healthcare Executive
One in five elderly patients are readmitted to the hospital within 30 days of leaving, according to government data. This revolving door of Medicare patients alone costs $26 billion annually, with $17 billion paying for trips that could be prevented upon patients receiving the right care.
July
Compounded ingredient costs: PBMs take action
Formulary Watch
In response to rising compounding drug costs, pharmacy benefit managers, such as Express Scripts, have made moves to restrict their coverage for active ingredients used by compounding pharmacies.
July
Rising use and cost of compounded medications in workers comp sparks concern
Business Insurance
The use and price of compounded medications in workers compensation has climbed sharply, prompting concerns about controlling prescription costs for comp claims and managing safety for injured workers.
June
These CEOs Have Some Unexpected Hobbies: Stickers, Anyone?
The Wall Street Journal
On average, American chief executives work more than 50 hours a week, according to a recent study co-led by Harvard Business School. For the rest of the time, they have hobbies.
June
Women in Business: Andrea Marks, Chief Analytics Officer at Catamaran
The Huffington Post
As Chief Analytics Officer, Andrea Marks oversees Catamaran's risk modeling, comprehensive outcome measurement, client analytics and robust reporting capabilities.
June
Fast Fifty: No. 9 Catamaran
Crain's Chicago Business
After this Schaumburg company made a play in 2012 for its rival, Rockville, Maryland's Catalyst Health Solutions Inc., many observers expected Catamaran to take a long breath and integrate its operations. But CEO Mark Thierer, 54 (at right), stayed hot on the acquisition trail, snapping up Milwaukee-based Restat LLC in August.
May
Measured Exclusion
BioCentury
At a time when some PBMs are cracking down on mounting specialty drug costs through tools like excluded drugs lists, Catamaran Corp. is taking a more measured approach. The excluded drugs list the PBM plans to release next month will not include specialty drugs.
May
Drug Trend Report Predicts Continued Rise of Specialty Medications
Specialty Pharmacy Times
Spending on specialty medications saw a large increase in 2013, a trend that is predicted to continue in 2014 and well into the future, according to an analysis by the Catamaran Corporation in its annual Informed Trends report.
May
Leap of Faith
Human Resource Executive
Some companies are embracing a newfound commitment to the entrepreneurial spirit by encouraging employees to think and act like leaders.
April
Chicago's innovation spaces
Chicago Tribune
Reaching for new ways to define the concept of what is possible, companies in Chicago and elsewhere are designing dynamic spaces devoted to innovation.
April
Reduction seen in MCO drug trend
Managed Healthcare Executive
Managed care organizations (MCOs) experienced a 1.7% overall pharmacy trend in 2013, according to Catamaran’s 2013 Drug Trend data. In 2012, MCO trend was 1.9%.
April
AMCP: Reduce readmissions with MTM
Managed Healthcare Executive
When payers and pharmacy benefits managers collaborate on medication therapy management (MTM), they can drive positive impact on readmission rates.
March
Specialty drug pricing pushing envelope for hospital pharmacies
Formulary Watch
The specialty market continues to expand due to the entry of novel new drugs and new formulations, including products offering new and simplified routes of administration.
February
Video Consults: A New Health Care Era
Pharmacy Times
Finding ways to help patients take their medicine as prescribed by their physician will not only help drive better health outcomes but also reduce costs.
January
What will it mean when your doctor knows every move you make?
Chicago Tribune
As Catamaran executive John Romza kicked off the wearable technology panel he moderated Wednesday morning, he highlighted the extent to which smart devices have commandeered his life.
December
Video Consults: Innovating and Personalizing Patient Care
Specialty Pharmacy Times
High-tech communication solutions allow pharmacists and patients to work together to overcome barriers to the administration and management of complex medication regimens.
June
Catamaran's CEO spills about his deal with Cigna and its 8M customers
The Chicago Grid
Mark Thierer is making a long-term bet on the health insurer, and he's feeling good about it.
March
Bill Gunderson's Radio Play of the Day: A Fast-Growing Catamaran
The Street
Just how much correlation is there between earnings growth and stock price appreciation? In 2012, Fortune Magazine named Catamaran Corp. (CTRX) the 12th-fastest growing company in America.
January
Catamaran CEO Sees More Changes to Win New Clients
Dow Jones
Pharmacy-benefit manager Catamaran Corp. (CTRX, CCT.T) is getting "lots of looks" at large potential clients as it wields newfound heft to compete with big rivals, Chief Executive Mark Thierer said Monday.
December
Catamaran Execs Stress Patient Education, Personalized Touch
Drug Benefit News
DBN recently interviewed two Catamaran Corp.
executives: Sumit Dutta, M.D., senior vice president and
chief medical officer, who formerly worked at Medco
Health Solutions, Inc. and was hired in August, and
David Calabrese, president and chief pharmacy officer,
who joined the company as vice president of clinical
operations as part of the MedMetrics acquisition in 2011
and was promoted in August.
November
Catamaran Signs 3-Year Deal with Target
Chicago Tribune
Catamaran Corp. said Thursday that it signed a three-year contract to provide pharmacy benefit management services to Target Corp., announcing its arrival as an undisputed force in the evolving industry.
October
Catamaran Corporation (CTRX) Company Interview
The Wall Street Transcript
Jeff Park is Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at Catamaran Corporation, the nation’s fourth-largest pharmacy benefits manager by prescription volume, serving more than 25 million members. He is responsible for acquisitions, investor relations and financial operations.
September
Mark Thierer's Winning Merger Has Catamaran Cresting
Investor's Business Day
Mark Thierer doesn't count on luck when playing the high-stakes merger and acquisition game. The CEO of pharmacy benefit manager Catamaran (CTRX) comes to the table armed with a sharp strategy to assure he beats the odds. This way, Thierer feels confident betting on game-changing buys.
September
Steering the Ship, with the Wind at His Back
Chicago Tribune
Mark Thierer has a sticker for everything: golf balls, fruit, cars, states, letters, numbers. In all, he thinks he has probably 40,000 of them, collected from around the world.
