Blue Shield of California Partners with Amazon and Cost Plus Drugs, Drops CVS Caremark as Pharmacy Benefit Manager

Blue Shield of California is partnering with Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drug Company and Amazon Pharmacy to save on drug costs for its 4.8 million members, moving away from traditional drug store chains like CVS. The collaboration aims to reduce costs by $500 million annually, with upfront pricing, free delivery, and round-the-clock access to pharmacists offered through online services. While CVS will still be used for specialty drugs, the transition to Cost Plus and Amazon will begin with Blue Shield's own workers in 2024 before being introduced to members in 2025.