Drug Channels News Roundup, March 2026: Cigna’s 340B Workaround, Merck’s ARPA Surprise, Walgreens’ Automation Bet, Why Rebates Hurt Patients, and a DCI Team Photo

Spring is here in always-sunny Philadelphia. The vernal equinox has brought us an unexpected bounty of noteworthy news: Cigna’s clever vertical integration move Merck cuts drug prices—and Medicaid and 340B pay more Walgreens’ big pharmacy technology play How plans profit—and patients lose—from highly rebated drugs Plus: A bonus photo from the Drug Channels Leadership Forum P.S. Join my nearly 69,000 LinkedIn followers for links to neat stuff, along with unfiltered commentary from the DCI community. PBM Industry Update 2026: Trends, Challenges, and What's Ahead . Don't forget to register for DCI’s next webinar on Friday, April 10, 2026, from 12:00…

Spring is here in always-sunny Philadelphia. The vernal equinox has brought us an unexpected bounty of noteworthy news:

Cigna’s clever vertical integration move

Merck cuts drug prices—and Medicaid and 340B pay more

Walgreens’ big pharmacy technology play

How plans profit—and patients lose—from highly rebated drugs

Plus: A bonus photo from the Drug Channels Leadership Forum

P.S. Join my nearly 69,000 LinkedIn followers for links to neat stuff, along with unfiltered commentary from the DCI community.

PBM Industry Update 2026: Trends, Challenges, and What's Ahead.

Don't forget to register for DCI’s next webinar on Friday, April 10, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. Adam J. Fein and Bryce Platt will unpack the good, the bad, and the ugly of the PBM industry—and explore what it means for you. Click here to learn more and sign up.