Will PBMs turn copay cards into an endangered species?

Copay coupons and discount cards could soon be seeing the end of their day as pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) put their foot down. Last year, Express Scripts ($ESRX) made waves by excluding 48 products from its national formulary, including some Big Pharma up-and-comers, targeting those with copay discounts. Now, United Healthcare ($UNH) has widened its stamp-out-coupons pilot program to cover 25 additional drugs, and some smaller PBMs and insurers are following suit with similar moves. More