Impact of biosimilar strategies on cost savings and utilization trends of adalimumab products among United States health plans
By Stephen Kang, PharmD; Mark Shinmoto, PharmD; Elton Teng, PharmD; Jeffrey He, PharmD; Rachel K. Hudson, PharmD, MBA
Pharmaceutical costs continue to drive overall healthcare expenditures, with an estimated spend of over $800 billion in 2024 and $417B (52%) from biologics (specialty drugs) (Long, 2025, slide 16)1. By providing highly similar, yet less expensive,
treatment options, biosimilars offer opportunities for mitigating the risk of increasing drug spend and providing greater access to life-saving medicines. However, some biosimilar strategies employed by commercial health plans may inhibit the
utilization of biosimilars and result in a suboptimal net reduction in plan spend. But, with the right strategy it is possible to achieve an appropriate balance of clinical and cost considerations.
Recently, our 2024-2025 Managed Care Fellow, Stephen Kang, Pharm D and our clinical team completed a comprehensive analysis of adalimumab (Humira® and biosimilars) using data
from three large U.S. health systems, each employing distinct biosimilar strategies. Findings show that thoughtful biosimilar strategies—leveraging distribution channels and the use of biosimilars—can significantly reduce PMPM spending without
compromising care.
Ventegra is predicated on the core belief that healthcare in the U.S. should be a societal good, which requires finding a way to maximize the benefits of healthcare while minimizing the financial burden on individuals and society.
We can help you reduce your pharmacy spend without compromising care, by offering access to unique discounts and contracts, and effective strategies based on solid and reliable clinical information.
Our drug list and formularies are designed to provide our clients with a choice of pharmacy products that meet all of the essential clinical conditions while addressing economic needs, and providing quality of care, affordability and choice.
Ventegra was founded to create balance between profitability and affordable patient care in an industry burdened by misplaced priorities. Our team applies our core values of integrity and transparency to create new healthcare delivery channels that are more consolidated and efficient. We channel our resources to positively impact the lives of others and create value for society as a whole.
Policies
HIPAA Compliance Policy
Ventegra has adopted a General HIPAA Compliance Policy in order to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (“HITECH”) Act of 2009 (Title XIII of division A and Title IV of division B of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act “ARRA”) and the HIPAA Omnibus Final Rule (Effective Date: March 26, 2013). We acknowledge that full compliance with the HIPAA Final Rule is required by or before September 23, 2013.
Ventegra hereby acknowledges our duty and responsibility to protect the privacy and security of Individually Identifiable Health Information (“IIHI”) generally, and Protected Health Information (“PHI”) as defined in the HIPAA Regulations, under the regulations implementing HIPAA, other federal and state laws protecting the confidentiality of personal information, and under principles of general and professional ethics. We also acknowledge our duty and responsibility to support and facilitate the timely and unimpeded flow of health information for lawful and appropriate purposes.
This policy governs general HIPAA Compliance for Ventegra. All personnel of Ventegra must comply with this policy. Demonstrated competence in the requirements of this policy is an important part of the responsibilities of every member of our workforce. Officers, employees, Business Associates, contractors, affected vendors, temporary workers, and volunteers must read, understand, and comply with this policy in full and at all times.
Privacy Notice
Effective Date: March 1, 2021
This privacy notice discloses the privacy practices for this site. This privacy notice applies solely to information collected by this website, except where stated otherwise. It will notify you of the following:
What information we collect;
With whom it is shared;
How it can be corrected;
How it is secured;
How policy changes will be communicated; and
How to address concerns over misuse of personal data.
Information Collection, Use, and Sharing
We are the sole owners of the information collected on this site. We only have access to/collect information that you voluntarily give us via email or other direct contact from you. We will not sell or rent this information to anyone.
We will use your information to respond to you, regarding the reason you contacted us. We will not share your information with any third party outside of our organization, other than as necessary to fulfill your request, e.g., to ship an order.
Unless you ask us not to, we may contact you via email in the future to tell you about specials, new products or services, or changes to this privacy policy.
Your Access to and Control Over Information
You may opt out of any future contacts from us at any time. You can do the following at any time by contacting us via the email address or phone number provided on our website:
See what data we have about you, if any.
Change/correct any data we have about you.
Have us delete any data we have about you.
Express any concern you have about our use of your data.
Security
We take precautions to protect your information. When you submit sensitive information via the website, your information is protected both online and offline.
Wherever we collect sensitive information (such as credit card data), that information is encrypted and transmitted to us in a secure way. You can verify this by looking for a closed lock icon at the bottom of your web browser, or looking for "https" at the beginning of the address of the web page.
While we use encryption to protect sensitive information transmitted online, we also protect your information offline. Only employees who need the information to perform a specific job (e.g., billing or customer service) are granted access to personally identifiable information. The computers/servers on which we store personally identifiable information are kept in a secure environment.
Notification of Changes
Whenever material changes are made to this privacy notice updates will be reflected here on our website.
Other Provisions as Required by Law
Numerous other provisions and/or practices may be required as a result of laws, international treaties, or industry practices. It is up to you to determine what additional practices must be followed and/or what additional disclosures are required. Please take special notice of the California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA), which is frequently amended and now includes a disclosure requirement for “Do Not Track” signals.
If you feel that we are not abiding by this privacy policy, you should contact us immediately via telephone at 858-551-8111 or privacyandsecurity@ventegra.org.
Fraud, Waste & Abuse
Part of our efforts to improve the healthcare system, Ventegra is committed to detecting, preventing and correcting fraud, waste and abuse.
What are Fraud, Waste, and Abuse?
FRAUD is generally defined as knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme or artifice to defraud any health care benefit program or to obtain (by means of false or fraudulent pretenses representations, or promises) any of the money or property owned by, or under the custody or control of, any health care benefit program. (18 U.S.C. § 1347)
WASTE is overutilization of services or other practices that, directly or indirectly, result in unnecessary costs to the health care system, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs. It is not generally considered to be caused by criminally negligent actions, but by the misuse of resources.
ABUSE includes any action(s) that may, directly or indirectly, result in one or more of the following:
Unnecessary costs to the health care system, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs
Improper payment for services
Payment for services that fail to meet professionally recognized standards of care
Services that are medically unnecessary
Abuse involves payment for items or services when there is no legal entitlement to that payment.
How to Report Fraud, Waste, and Abuse
If you suspect fraud, waste, or abuse in the healthcare system, please report it. To report suspected fraud, waste, or abuse, you can contact Ventegra:
We at Ventegra, Inc. (“Ventegra”) welcome you to our website. This site is maintained as a service to our customers. By using this site, you agree to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions of use. Please review these terms and conditions carefully. If you do not agree to these terms and conditions, you should not use this site.
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UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES WILL VENTEGRA BE LIABLE OR RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL (INCLUDING DAMAGES FROM LOSS OF BUSINESS, LOST PROFITS, LITIGATION, OR THE LIKE), SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE, OR OTHER DAMAGES, UNDER ANY LEGAL THEORY, ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THE SITE, YOUR SITE USE, OR THE CONTENT, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. YOUR SOLE REMEDY FOR DISSATISFACTION WITH THE SITE AND/OR CONTENT IS TO CEASE ALL OF YOUR SITE USE.
You may have additional rights under certain laws (including consumer laws) which do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties, or the exclusion or limitation of certain damages. If these laws apply to you, the exclusions or limitations in this Agreement that directly conflict with such laws may not apply to you.
Use of Information. Ventegra reserves the right, and you authorize us, to use and assign all information regarding site uses by you and all information provided by you in any manner consistent with our Privacy Policy.
Applicable Law. You agree that the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflicts of laws provisions, will govern these Terms and Conditions of Use and any dispute that may arise between you and Ventegra or its affiliates.
Severability. If any provision of this Agreement shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable or invalid, that provision shall be limited or eliminated to the minimum extent necessary so that this Agreement will otherwise remain in full force and effect.
Termination. Ventegra may terminate this Agreement at any time, with or without notice, for any reason.
Contact Information.
HOW TO CONTACT US:
Ventegra, Inc.
450 North Brand Blvd
Suite 600
Glendale, CA 91203
Corporate: (858) 551-8111
Fax: (858) 551-8175
