The complexity of managing drug spend cuts across both medical and pharmacy benefits. While spend under the medical benefit has increased over the years, there has been some swing back to the pharmacy benefit as of late. Regardless of the benefit, payers, provider, PBMs and employers need a holistic view of drug spend and utilization along with a comprehensive approach to optimizing drug therapy to lower costs without negatively impacting quality. This requires an integrated approach to data, systems, and processes. Our team of pharmacy and healthcare experts bring a unique set of skills that combines clinical, operational, financial and technology experience to address our clients’ needs. As an independent firm, AArete works as a strategic partner to develop sustainable solutions with your goals as our priority.
Who We Serve
Health Plans
Government-funded and commercial health plans seeking innovative solutions for reducing costs and elevating member experience and care quality
Providers
Retail, specialty, and hospital pharmacies committed to member experience and optimizing drug therapy
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)
Innovative companies seeking creative solutions to improve the management of pharmacy benefits for health plans and employers.
Employer Groups
Employers eager to lower drug costs and improve employee healthcare experience
Our Experience Supporting Healthcare Organizations
The breadth and depth of our market intelligence derived from medical and pharmacy claims data analytics is unmatched. Our approach is personal and customized: we embrace industry best practices while prioritizing the unique set of challenges faced by each health plan.
100+
Health Plans
8
of the top 10 plans*
40+
US Markets
100+
Providers
* based on at-risk membership
Featured Services
Trend Management
Through analysis of medical and pharmacy claims data, AArete’s Payment Intelligence® helps analyze drug spend and identify opportune areas for reducing overall cost of care. Depending on your unique goals, AArete leverages our pharmacy experts and best practices to develop strategies to reduce costs.
How We Serve:
Health Plans
Driving down cost of care through:
- PBM Procurement, contract assessment and Performance Management
- Program assessments and audits
- Network and Benefit Design
- Prior Authorization Effectiveness
- Manufacturer Value-Based Contracting
- Cross benefit drug management
Providers
Enhancing pharmacy performance through:
- Drug purchasing optimization
- Operational improvements
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)
Optimizing revenue through:
- Growth Strategies
- Operational Improvements
- Digital and Technology
Employer Groups
Strategic Advisor of pharmacy benefits:
- PBM Procurement, contract assessment and Performance Management
- Lowest Net Cost Strategies
- Specialty Drug Carve-Ins/Outs
- Optimizing Manufacturer Discount Programs
Infrastructure Advisory
Siloed operations can make achieving enterprise goals challenging. Leaning on data and promoting tech-enabled solutions, AArete supports a range of pharmacy operations needs to drive profitability improvement. AArete’s mission is to optimize people, process, and technology, improve systems and synchronize cost of care data for pharmacy operation value.
How We Serve:
Health Plans
Improving the bottom line by driving down operational efficiencies through:
- Organizational Structure Alignment
- Operations Assessment
- Pharmacy Benefit Administration
- Analytics and Reporting
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)
Innovating solutions for optimal growth potential through:
- Pricing model assessment
- Growth strategy
- Process Improvement
Employer Groups
Providing unbiased pharmacy benefits management support through:
- Independent Evaluation of PBM Performance and Oversight
- Serving as a Liaison Between Employer and PBM
- Reporting and Analytics
The AArete Difference
No Bias; Just Results
AArete is an independent firm committed to your specific objectives.
Market Intelligence
Data-Driven Strategies
Implementation
Pharmacy Insights
Let’s Talk About Your Pharmacy Needs
Whether you’re looking for a consulting partner who can adapt to your health plan’s specific needs and drive results, or just curious about our services and solutions, let’s talk.
Our Pharmacy Experts
Leslie Lotano-Saba
Expertise Areas:
Leslie Lotano-Saba
Leslie Lotano-Saba has more than 35 years of pharmacy experience, primarily in government programs with payers and PBMs. She is recognized for developing innovative and practical strategies that decrease costs and improve margin without compromising quality. Leslie established her own consulting firm, Saba and Associates, LLC, and has applied her extensive industry knowledge and expertise to assist health plans, PBMs, technology and clinical care organizations address strategic and operational issues, improving their performance.
Leslie’s previous experience includes Chief Operating Officer of Clinical Support Services, a medication therapy management company responsible for operational efficiency improvements and revenue growth; Senior Vice President for Amerigroup (acquired by Anthem), where she led the pharmacy program for one of the nation’s largest Medicaid managed care plans, managing state carve-ins, designing and implementing innovative cost savings solutions; Vice President of Pharmacy for Horizon NJ Health, the largest Medicaid managed care plan in New Jersey where she successfully insourced pharmacy benefits management, designed a Community Pharmacist Diabetes Initiative and a regionally and nationally recognized Asthma disease management program. Leslie also led operational improvement initiatives at NCS Healthcare (long term care), PSCNY (PBM) and Medco mail service pharmacy in New York.
Leslie serves as a member of the AMCP Public Policy committee and a member of the AMCP Medication Therapy Management Advisory Group. Leslie earned a Bachelor’s of Pharmacy degree from Albany College of Pharmacy and a MS in Healthcare Administration from Union College (Clarkson University) and attended the Wharton School Executive Management Program for Pharmacy Leaders. She is also a member of Women Business Leaders, AMCP and the American College of Healthcare Executives.
Mark O’Hara
Expertise Areas:
Mark O’Hara
Mark is a Managing Director and co-leader of AArete’s Healthcare Payer Practice. He is responsible for the overall strategic vision and execution of AArete’s solutions for Payer clients. He has extensive expertise leading a variety of engagements including medical and administrative cost reduction, process improvement, network development, M&A and others. Mark has worked with payer clients for over 20 years, providing a wealth of experience to his clients.
Mark holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Cornell University, a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington University in St. Louis, and is a published author in CFO Magazine.
Duane Harrington
Expertise Areas:
Duane Harrington
Duane brings more than 25 years of consulting experience helping organizations with various strategy, performance improvement and operational initiatives. As part of AArete’s Executive Leadership, Duane works closely with our industry and service line leads to drive growth while supporting innovation and solution development. Duane holds a Master of Business Administration degree from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The Ohio State University.