Which of the following is NOT a typical source of revenue for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)?

Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) generate revenue through several key channels that are essential for their operation and sustainability in managing pharmacy benefits for health plans and employers. One of the options listed, pharmacy staff salaries, is not a source of revenue for PBMs; instead, it represents an operational cost.

PBMs typically earn revenue from retail markups, which involve the difference between the cost of the drug and the amount reimbursed to pharmacies. They also collect administrative fees that health plans pay for the management of pharmacy benefits. Additionally, they negotiate manufacturer rebates on medications, where they receive payment from drug manufacturers in exchange for placing specific drugs on preferred formulary lists.

Thus, while the other options represent legitimate sources of revenue for PBMs, pharmacy staff salaries do not contribute to revenue; rather, they are part of the expenses incurred by PBMs in managing their workforce. This distinction clarifies why pharmacy staff salaries is the correct choice as the factor that does not contribute to the revenue of PBMs.