01/27/2026
What Are Opaque Contracts? š¶ļø
An opaque contract hides key detailsādefinitions, pricing formulas, and fee structuresāunder complex or confidential language. In PBM agreements, opacity isnāt accidental; itās strategic. The less you can see, the more they can shape outcomes behind the scenes.
Why Does It Matter? šµ
When contracts lack clarity:
š Employers canāt trace where every dollar goes.
šø āGuaranteed savingsā become unverifiable promises.
š¤ Questions about pricing or rebates get deflected under āproprietaryā protections.
The Cost of Staying in the Dark š”
Hereās how opacity translates to expense:
š Unclear language lets PBMs define metrics and margins to their advantage.
š¦ Plan sponsors lose leverage in audits, renewals, and renegotiations.
š The result: predictably unpredictable costsāand profits you canāt track.
Bottom line: š§
Opaque contracts create opaque results. The only way to reclaim control is through fearless transparencyābecause clarity doesnāt just expose profit, it restores power.