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Redirect Wasted PBM Spend Into Skilled Labor: A First Responder Approach for Manufacturers

Manufacturing leaders: Discover how switching to a Fiduciary PBM can redirect wasted spend into workforce development, addressing the skilled labor shortage and reducing costs.

By Ken Kemker • April 15, 2025 • 3 min read

Redirect Wasted PBM Spend Into Skilled Labor: A First Responder Approach for Manufacturers

In the manufacturing sector, every dollar spent impacts the bottom line. When your business allocates substantial funds to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) without full disclosure of where that money goes, you’re missing opportunities to reinvest those resources into your most valuable asset—your workforce.

The True Expense of Traditional PBM Models

Many manufacturers don’t realize that their pharmacy benefit spending includes significant markups and retained rebates that never benefit their organization or employees. This isn’t just an administrative concern—it directly affects your ability to attract and retain skilled labor in an increasingly competitive market.

Manufacturing organizations across the country face two simultaneous challenges:

  1. Rising health plan costs, particularly prescription benefits
  2. A growing shortage of qualified skilled labor

These challenges aren’t unrelated. By addressing the first through a fiduciary PBM relationship, you create resources to tackle the second.

Recapturing Value in Your Prescription Benefits

Pharmacy benefit management often remains a complex system of pricing, with traditional PBMs operating on:

  • Non-disclosed pricing models
  • Complex administrative fees
  • Retained manufacturer rebates
  • Spread pricing that increases costs

A fiduciary approach with DisclosedRx changes this equation entirely:

  • 100% Pass-Through Drug Pricing – You pay what we pay
  • 100% Pass-Through Rebates – No rebates held back
  • One Admin Fee – No confusing fees or shell games
  • Contractually bound to act in your best interest

Real-World Impact: Reinvestment in Workforce Development

Forward-thinking manufacturers, health systems, and school districts have already redirected savings from their prescription benefit programs into strategic workforce initiatives:

  • Expanded technical training programs
  • Apprenticeship opportunities
  • Improved recruitment incentives
  • Enhanced retention programs

These organizations aren’t spending more—they’re simply redirecting dollars previously lost to non-disclosed PBM practices.

The Manufacturing Skilled Labor Challenge

The skilled labor shortage in manufacturing continues to worsen:

According to Deloitte and The Manufacturing Institute:

  • 2.1 million manufacturing jobs could go unfilled by 2030
  • The cost of unfilled positions in the manufacturing sector exceeds $1 trillion

Manufacturing companies consistently rank finding qualified workers among their top three business challenges, alongside rising material costs and supply chain disruptions.

How DisclosedRx Supports Manufacturers

Our approach is specifically tailored to manufacturing environments where:

  • Workforces often span multiple locations
  • Employees may have varying levels of healthcare literacy
  • Healthcare costs directly impact competitiveness

We provide:

  • Enhanced specialty cost control programs
  • Agile channel management to maximize savings
  • Seamless implementation with minimal disruption

Invest in Your Future Workforce Today

Manufacturers can’t afford to continue losing valuable resources to non-disclosed PBM practices while simultaneously struggling with workforce challenges. The connection between these issues presents an opportunity for immediate action.

By redirecting wasted PBM spend back into your organization, you create a competitive advantage through both cost control and workforce development. This isn’t about increasing your budget—it’s about maximizing the impact of every dollar you’re already spending.

Source: https://themanufacturinginstitute.org/2-1-million-manufacturing-jobs-could-go-unfilled-by-2030-11330/

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