{"id":52692,"date":"2022-07-14T11:37:52","date_gmt":"2022-07-14T15:37:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=52692"},"modified":"2026-03-26T12:36:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T16:36:21","slug":"pbm-pharmacist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/pbm-pharmacist\/","title":{"rendered":"How to become a PBM pharmacist"},"content":{"rendered":"

Working for a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) is one of the many paths you can take as a pharmacist. With links to almost every aspect of the pharmacy marketplace, PBMs play a central role in balancing optimal outcomes and costs for health insurance plans, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and pharmacies. PBMs manage the prescription drug benefits provided by health plans, employers, Medicare Part D, Medicaid drug plans, and other organizations. In turn, PBMs help patients access the medications they need.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re interested in improving patient outcomes with pharmacy marketplace economics in mind, becoming a PBM pharmacist may be right for you. PBM pharmacists are on the front end of managing and auditing prescription benefit plans and are a valuable asset to improving medication access.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What is a PBM pharmacist?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The primary objective of PBMs and PBM pharmacists is to help improve patient outcomes while driving lower costs. PBM companies can have several different departments that handle different aspects of drug cost control. As a result, a PBM pharmacist can have different roles and responsibilities depending on their work environment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

PBM pharmacists develop prescription benefit plans, adjudicate prescription drug claims, and handle prior authorizations. They might be a part of a Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T) Committee that develops, curates, and implements a <\/span>formulary<\/span><\/a> or preferred drug list. PBM pharmacists also drive clinical programs, such as step therapy programs, <\/span>medication therapy management<\/span><\/a>, and mail order services. PBM pharmacists may use their research skills to evaluate clinical trials and studies on the most cost-effective medications. Some PBM pharmacists may consult with healthcare providers and patients on low-cost therapeutic alternatives and direct patients to adhere to specific medications before trying more expensive options.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Unlike other pharmacists, PBM pharmacists generally work in an office or call center. They often work at a desk, handling and processing prior authorizations, medication therapy management programs, among other duties. Many PBM pharmacists work in a mail-order pharmacy, performing drug utilization reviews (DURs), verifying prescriptions, and overseeing an automated dispensing process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In general, the duties of PBM pharmacists include:<\/span><\/p>\n