IDNs’ Numerous Strategies and Tools to Manage High-Cost Drugs

As the growth of drug expenses continues to outpace other expenses, integrated delivery networks (IDNs) are increasingly deploying sophisticated tools to monitor, manage, and influence prescribing behaviors. Our most recent 2024 IDN Oncology Trend Survey—scheduled for release at the end of this month—specifically looked at the use of high-cost drug review or committees because the majority of IDNs (~70%) use one of these mechanisms to consider both inpatient and outpatient treatments, which includes cancer drugs.

The Figure below illustrates the types and prevalence of tools IDNs with high-cost drug reviews or committees use to monitor these drugs.

• Of the IDNs with high-cost drug reviews, over 90% deploy two or more tools to monitor and manage these drugs.
• The most common tool was high-cost drug utilization reports, deployed by 84% of IDNs with high-cost drug reviews.
• In addition to retrospective reports, most IDNs with high-cost drug reviews have also implemented real-time alerts or tools to manage or guide prescribing. These include electronic health record alerts notifying providers of the need for additional approvals (75%), as well as real-time drug pricing tools (58%).

Figure. Share of IDNs With High-Cost Drug Reviews That Deploy Various Tools (2024; N = 112) Includes only IDNs that have high-cost drug reviews (69% of IDNs), and 1% of respondents were unsure.
Source: HMP Market Access Insights 2024 IDN Oncology Trend Report.
Abbreviations: EHR, electronic health record. IDN, integrated delivery network.

Manufacturers should be aware of how the variety of tools IDNs deploy to manage prescribing may influence prescribing patterns, and we look forward to sharing additional insights later this month when we release our full 2024 IDN Oncology Trend report!