Express Scripts Enters Prescription Drug Contract with Centene

Cigna’s Express Scripts will now manage Centene’s pharmacy benefit services to make prescription medications more accessible and affordable for customers.

Express Scripts will handle more than $35 billion in annual prescription drug spend for about 20 million Centene members.

The multi-year partnership is slated to officially begin Jan. 1, 2024.

Amy Bricker, president of Express Scripts, said in a release from Express Scripts, "this further demonstrates the value of our growth strategy, our long track record as a partner of choice to government-sponsored plans, and the opportunity we have to further extend our services to more and more Americans. We look forward to working with Centene to create innovative health services that help people live healthier lives and unlock meaningful savings for those we serve."

Express Scripts and Centene will work together to enhance early detection of health episodes, close gaps in care, and drive improved clinical outcomes for the purpose of unlocking additional prescription drug savings and better health outcomes for customers, the release said.

In addition to affordable prescription drugs, Centene customers will also have access to Express Scripts' extensive national network of retail pharmacies.

Centene selected Express Scripts to administer pharmacy benefits after a competitive bidding process, the release said.

Last year, the executive team of Centene said it was looking to divest non-core assets as part of its “value creation plan,” according to a recent article by HealthcareDive.

Centene said it closed the sale of Pantherx this quarter, a specialty pharmacy it acquired in 2020.

In the HealthcareDrive article, Centene CEO Sarah London said the company is in the closing process for the sale of Magellan Rx, a PBM, and Ribera in Spain, which operates 10 hospitals with 1,650 beds and 71 outpatient centers.