Today’s article posed a seemingly straightforward question: Is there a marketplace for mail order? Our initial response was an emphatic “YES.” However, after further reading, it became clear that our first impressions regarding mail order pharmacy required more careful consideration.
Despite the convenience it promises, mail order pharmacy has historically seen only gradual acceptance among the public. Research from 2000 to 2021 consistently found only a modest rate of adoption, and even the most recent studies indicate that just 10-15% of people choose mail order as their primary method for obtaining prescriptions. Several factors contribute to this cautious approach, but shifts in the industry are poised to spark greater interest.
Insurers are increasingly steering their members toward network pharmacies, often promoting that prescriptions be filled via mail order—particularly when the mail order service (often a PBM) is owned by the insurer itself. Meanwhile, major national retailers including Walmart, Costco, and Amazon are also reshaping the landscape by actively promoting their own mail order pharmacy services. Patients that use a specialty mail service pharmacy for the first time find that this model can also work well for non-specialty meds. As these diverse forces converge, they are set to transform both the marketplace and public perception of mail order fulfillment.
PS: Will a new category be added to future studies on pharmacy fulfillment — DRONE Delivery?
Is There a Marketplace for Mail Order?
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