
PBM 101
SmithRx
Key Takeaways
SmithRx charges a flat $10 per member per month (PMPM) admin fee. It is our only source of revenue.
SmithRx is built specifically for mid-market self-funded employers, typically [500 to 10,000] employees.
Drug costs are 100% pass-through: no spread pricing, no rebate retention, no per-claim fees.
Our book of business runs around $70 Total PMPM including admin fees, about 40% below industry benchmarks.
SmithRx is a modern pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) built specifically for mid-market self-funded employers. We charge one flat admin fee of $10 per member per month, and that fee is the only way we get paid. Every dollar of drug cost and every rebate passes through to the plan.
Legacy PBMs make money on the spread between what they charge you and what they pay pharmacies, and on rebates they keep. That ties their revenue to higher drug prices. A flat fee removes that conflict: we do better only when your plan spends less.
Our Fee: A Flat $10 PMPM
The $10 PMPM fee covers everything we do:
Claims administration, pharmacy network and formulary management
Dedicated account management and US-based member support
Clinical programs, specialty management and prior authorization
Our cost-savings programs, including Drug Pathways, with dedicated case agents
Full claims-level reporting and audit rights
There are no implementation fees, data fees, per-claim fees or program add-ons.
Backed by a 1.5x ROI Guarantee
If the savings our programs deliver are less than 1.5x the program portion of your admin fee, we refund the difference every year.
Measuring What Matters: The Power of Total PMPM
As you consider your PBM partnership and its related costs, it can feel all too easy to get lost in the details. But at the end of the day, what really matters is the overall value. This is where Total PMPM comes into play.
Think of it like buying a car. You wouldn't focus solely on the cost of manufacturing or just the price of the engine. What matters is the total cost of ownership. Similarly, in PBM partnerships, looking at individual components (like discounts or admin fees) in isolation doesn't give you the full picture.
Total PMPM represents the all-in amount you pay every month for pharmacy benefits, including admin fees, drug costs, and any other related expenses. It's calculated as:
Total PMPM = (Admin Fees + Drug Costs) / Number of Members / Number of Months
For example: If admin fees are $10 PMPM and average drug costs are $63 PMPM, the total average Total PMPM would be $73.
This comprehensive metric allows for fair comparisons between different time periods or PBM providers, provides transparency into your true pharmacy benefit expenses, and helps you track the impact of cost-saving initiatives over time.
At SmithRx, our fee structures are designed to optimize this metric through transparent pricing, passing through all rebates and discounts, focusing on cost-effective drug options, and continuous innovation.

When it comes to your pharmacy benefits program, remember to focus on metrics you can measure and rely on. Complex fee structures and lofty promises are distractions.
FAQ
What does SmithRx charge? A flat $10 per member per month admin fee. It is our only revenue.
Who is SmithRx built for? Mid-market self-funded employers, typically [500 to 10,000] employees, who want transparent pass-through pricing.
Does SmithRx make money on spread or rebates? No. 100% of drug pricing and rebates pass through to the plan.
Is the $10 a maximum or a flat fee? It is a flat fee that covers all services, including our cost-savings programs.
SmithRx
SmithRx is the #1 Modern PBM, relentlessly focused on eliminating the conflicts and complexity of legacy pharmacy benefits. Built on radical transparency and fiduciary alignment, we empower employers to take control of their pharmacy spend and experience with our 100% pass-through model.




