Optum Rx has increased reimbursement minimums on brand drugs for approximately independent pharmacies across the country. The company said this builds on an effort launched in March 2025 to align payment models more closely to the costs pharmacies may face.

In March, Optum Rx moved to a cost-based payment model for all 24,000 community pharmacies in its network. As of Sept. 1, 2025, Optum Rx added 2,300 independent pharmacies – those not affiliated with a pharmacy services administrative organization (PSAO), chain or other entity – to the program.

“The legacy system used across the industry was designed to incentivize the use of generic drugs by reimbursing them at a higher percentage, while brands received lower reimbursement margins,” Anne Lawlor, senior vice president, network contrac

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