Lumicera and Costco Partner to Offer Cost-Plus Specialty Pharmacy with Enhanced Pricing and Patient Support
In a move poised to shake up the specialty pharmacy market, Lumicera Health Services, a nationally recognized provider of specialty pharmacy solutions, has announced a strategic collaboration with Costco Wholesale Corporation (Nasdaq: COST). This new alliance aims to expand the availability of cost-plus specialty medications while advancing a shared commitment to pricing transparency, high-quality patient support, and clinically guided pharmaceutical care.
Under this partnership, Lumicera will bring its decade-long expertise in specialty medication distribution and patient management to Costco’s growing healthcare offerings. Costco, which has been expanding its footprint in pharmacy services through its cost-plus model, now gains access to Lumicera’s robust infrastructure and comprehensive patient care programs. In return, Lumicera benefits from Costco’s massive retail reach, purchasing power, and brand trust among millions of American consumers.
Redefining Access to Specialty Medications
Specialty medications, which are often used to treat chronic, rare, or complex conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, or cystic fibrosis, typically come with very high price tags. These therapies frequently require intricate logistics, such as refrigeration, timed administration, and ongoing monitoring. As a result, they are typically dispensed through specialty pharmacies that can handle these unique demands.
By entering into a cost-plus specialty pharmacy arrangement, Costco and Lumicera are challenging the traditional pharmaceutical distribution model, which has often been criticized for its opacity in pricing and lack of affordability. The collaboration aims to offer a transparent, auditable pricing model that benefits key stakeholders—including commercial employer benefit plans and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)—by providing access to high-cost specialty drugs at more manageable prices.
Plan sponsors and PBMs that are already aligned with Costco’s cost-plus pharmacy network will now be able to integrate Lumicera’s specialty medications into their coverage. The result: enhanced accessibility to life-saving treatments for patients, reduced financial strain for employers and payers, and a streamlined pharmacy experience focused on delivering clinical value rather than maximizing rebates or markup margins.
Lumicera’s Proven Track Record in Specialty Pharmacy
Founded over a decade ago, Lumicera has become one of the top 15 specialty pharmacies in the United States. The company is widely respected for its dedication to patient care, operational excellence, and innovation in medication management. Lumicera specializes in procuring and handling medications that require special care, including those needing temperature control, complex packaging, or customized dosing schedules.
Its hallmark offering is a comprehensive patient support model, which includes individualized treatment plans, adherence coaching, ongoing monitoring, and a team of specially trained clinical staff. Lumicera’s infrastructure includes several Centers of Excellence (COEs) that operate around the clock, offering 24/7 access to pharmacists, nurses, and care coordinators. These teams are deeply versed in the nuances of specific disease states and are trained to navigate both the clinical and emotional aspects of specialty drug use.
In 2024, Lumicera achieved a Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 85.5, a world-class rating that reflects the company’s success in creating positive, meaningful patient experiences. In an industry where service fragmentation and long wait times are all too common, Lumicera has distinguished itself by making patients feel supported, heard, and empowered.
Costco’s Expanding Role in the Healthcare Ecosystem
Long known for offering bulk goods at discount prices, Costco has been steadily increasing its influence in the healthcare industry. From vision and hearing services to pharmacy operations, the company has taken a consumer-first approach to reducing healthcare costs while improving access. Its adoption of a cost-plus pricing model for pharmaceuticals—where medications are sold at their acquisition cost plus a fixed, transparent markup—has gained considerable attention in recent years as an antidote to the bloated and often ambiguous pricing structures of traditional drug channels.
With this new partnership, Costco is expanding its role in specialty pharmacy, a segment of the market that continues to grow rapidly in both size and complexity. Specialty medications now account for over 50% of total drug spending in the United States, despite serving a relatively small percentage of the population. The opportunity to rein in costs and improve outcomes in this space is substantial—and Costco, in collaboration with Lumicera, appears well-positioned to lead that transformation.
“Costco and Lumicera are united by a commitment to transparency, exceptional quality, and a member-centric approach,” said Richard Stephens, Senior Vice President of Costco Pharmacy. “With more than a decade of experience delivering specialty pharmacy services, Lumicera brings an industry-leading patient support model to enhance our offerings and improve patient outcomes.”
Stephens emphasized that the goal is not just to lower prices, but also to drive better health outcomes. “Our mission is to deliver significant value on specialty medications by securing better pricing for high-cost drugs, passing these savings directly to our customers, and supporting patient health through comprehensive clinical support,” he said.
A New Paradigm of Transparent Pricing
At the heart of this partnership lies a shared philosophy: that transparency and integrity in drug pricing are essential to fixing a system that often puts profit over patients.
“This partnership underscores our dedication to transparency in the pharmaceutical industry,” said Ben Heiser, PharmD, MBA, CSP, LSSGB, General Manager at Lumicera. “By collaborating with Costco, we extend our cost-plus pricing model for specialty pharmacy, offering a clearer view of medication costs.”
Heiser explained that Lumicera’s model is built around a pass-through, acquisition cost-plus pricing structure, which means that any discounts, rebates, or negotiated savings from pharmaceutical manufacturers are passed directly through to the customer—without hidden markups or opaque fees. The goal is simple: to make essential specialty drugs more affordable without compromising quality or service.
“As drug prices continue to skyrocket, we remain committed to doing things the right way—for both patients and our partners,” Heiser added. “By returning all negotiated discounts from drug companies through our pass-through pricing model, we help keep medication costs as low as possible, ensuring people can afford the critical treatments they need.”
The Future of Affordable Specialty Care
The partnership between Lumicera and Costco could mark the beginning of a new era in specialty pharmacy—one defined by greater accountability, transparency, and patient-centered care. As more employers and PBMs seek alternatives to traditional pharmacy benefit models, collaborations like this offer a compelling solution that aligns financial sustainability with improved clinical outcomes.
In an increasingly complex healthcare environment, both organizations bring complementary strengths: Lumicera with its depth in specialty medication logistics and patient engagement, and Costco with its consumer-driven mindset and nationwide retail infrastructure. Together, they may offer a powerful new model for distributing high-cost, high-impact medications in a way that’s equitable, efficient, and sustainable.
Whether treating rare genetic conditions or managing lifelong autoimmune diseases, patients relying on specialty medications deserve more than just access—they deserve care, clarity, and compassion. This partnership is a step in that direction.
