Chrysler Prescribes Savings For Supply-Chain Partners

Compiled ByDeborah Austin The Chrysler Group, Auburn Hills, Mich., intends to help supplier partners and their employees economize on prescriptions through its new National Supplier Pharmacy Buy Partnership program. For now, it's offering the program to current supply-chain members with at least 5,000 combined employees and retirees in the U.S. A program for smaller member/employers should be implemented by January 2002. Administered by Chrysler's pharmacy benefit manager Merck-Medco LLC of New Jersey, the program aims to save enrolled companies up to 10% yearly on pharmaceuticals costs through group volume purchasing. It lets suppliers determine their own pharmacy plan design, network and co-pay structure. Chrysler -- part of DaimlerChrysler, Stuttgart, Germany -- started limited program rollout earlier this year to a small focus group of suppliers.