Crain’s: Blue Cross’ Biosimilar Medication Initiatives Save Members, Employee Groups More than $147 Million Between 2024 and 2025
Blue Daily
| 2 min read
Key Takeaways
- Blue Cross began transitioning members from brand-name drugs like Humira and Stelara to biosimilar alternatives such as Simlandi and Yesintek in 2025.
- Through Blue Cross' partnership with Evio Pharmacy Solutions, members and employer customers saved more than 90% off the list price of certain high-cost specialty drugs.
- These solutions reflect Blue Cross’ commitment to ensuring access to high-quality, affordable health care for members through partnership and innovation.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan saved members and employer groups more than $147 million over the past two years by expanding the use of lower-cost biosimilar medications, part of a broader strategy to address rising health care costs.
A recent Crain's Detroit Business article noted that the savings — which equaled out to $67 million in 2024 and $80 million in 2025 — came from transitioning members from high-cost specialty biologic drugs to Food and Drug Administration-approved biosimilars.
Specialty drugs are among the fastest-growing drivers of health care spending.
“Affordability, care and member choice are critical priorities for Blue Cross when it comes to maximizing the value of our pharmacy offerings for members,” Blue Cross Vice President of Pharmacy Services and Chief Pharmacy Officer Atheer Kaddis told Crain’s. “Specialty drugs are a significant driver behind the increasing cost of health care, and biologic medicines represent some of the most expensive prescriptions overall.”
Biologic medications – often used to treat autoimmune diseases and cancer – can carry list prices exceeding $10,000 per month. Blue Cross began transitioning members from brand-name drugs like Humira and Stelara to biosimilar alternatives such as Simlandi and Yesintek in 2025. Blue Cross members who switched to Simlandi now see a list price of less than $1,000 per month, compared with $10,400 for Humira. Approximately 99% of eligible members are now using the approved biosimilar options.
In 2025, Blue Cross leveraged a partnership with Evio Pharmacy Solutions, an independent company launched in 2021 with five other Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, to negotiate lower prices. Through that collaboration, members and employer customers saved more than 90% off the list price of certain high-cost specialty drugs.
The announcement comes as Blue Cross continues a commitment to affordability for members and customers following a more than $1 billion loss in 2024, driven in part by rising drug spending.
These solutions reflect Blue Cross’ commitment to ensuring access to high-quality, affordable health care for members through partnership and innovation.
Reader's note: The full Crain's story is behind the company website's paywall. Subscribers can read it by clicking here.
Learn more about Blue Cross’ commitment to affordability.
Photo credit: Getty Images
