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WIKI ANALYSIS
Omnicare, Inc. (NYSE:OCR) is a pharmaceutical services provider for senior citizens who are live in nursing homes and assisted-living centers in the United States and Canada. The company is the largest service provider to long term care facilities (LTC) in both beds, with 1.4 million in 47 states and approximately 68,000 patients.[1] Its pharmacies provide prescription drugs and pharmaceutical consulting services to geriatric institutions located within a 150-mile radius. Omnicare has used its relationships with nursing homes to serve as a contract research organization (CRO) to conduct clinical trials in 27 countries for pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.
Omnicare will see an increase in generic drugs that will benefit the company. The expiration of several key patent drugs that is used in the elderly committees, including anti-psychotics and Alzheimer medication, will allow distributors to generate both higher profit margins and higher total sales by volume. In addition, changes in health care policy--especially Medicare Part D--can result in larger volume of drugs being purchased. Omnicare benefits from the legislation because the majority of its clients are elderly covered under both Medicaid and Medicare, and the company is now able to negotiate separately with private plans paying higher prices.
However, Omnicare has suffered a series of set backs involving legal issues. Most notably, the company was charged with Medicaid fraud for deliberately switching patients to drugs that generated better margins for Omnicare[2]. One particular case resulted in Omnicare having to pay out $49.5 million for drugs they overcharged to elderly[3].
Company Overview
Started in 1981, the company has since risen to be the largest provider in pharmaceuticals for senior citizens in long term care facilities, independent communities, and etc. in both beds provided, and by revenue generated. In 2005, Omicare became the top pharmaceutical service provider for senior citizens after it bought NeighborCare Inc. for approximately $1.8 billion dollars.
Business and Financial Metrics
In 2009, Omnicare earned a total of $6.17 billion, a small decrease from the previous year's revenues of $6.31 billion. Despite this decrease in its total revenues, its net income actually increased from $156 million in 2008 to $212 million in 2009.
Business Segments
The Company is divided into two divisions: The Pharmacy Service segment and the Clinical Research segment
Pharmacy Services (97.5% of 2009 Revenue)
Omnicare pharmaceutical segment oversees all aspects of the distribution process, from acquisition to administration. They purchase prescription and non-prescription medication according to physician orders, and delivers them to skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), assisted living facilities (ALF’s), retirement centers, independent living communities, hospitals, hospice, other healthcare settings and service providers in both U.S. and Canada. OCR operates on a unit-of-use drug distribution system, designed so that patients take the right dose, at the right time. This differs from common prescriptions filled by retail pharmacies such as CVS (CVS) or Walgreen Company (WAG), which usually sells medicine in a bottle or in bulk. Additional service, Omnicare provides computerized medical record-keeping and third-party billing for residents in these facilities.
Aside from the basic coverage, Omnicare also provides services to meet specialized needs for long-term care patients. For example, Omnicare provides intravenous (IV) products and services or many home and hospice, in addition to the long-term care facilities. OCR LTC facilities include an unique "Outcomes Algorithm Technology," that quickly identify any inappropriate treatment so pharmacist can react quickly to under treatment or over treatment. For retirees, employees and dependents who have drug benefits under corporate-sponsored healthcare programs, the company provides pharmaceutical case management services.
In 2009, this segment earned $6.0 billion in total revenues.[4]
Clinical Research (2.5% of Revenue)
Omnicare's contract research organization (CRO) segment provides biotechnology, product research and development for the pharmaceutical, medical device and diagnostic industries in 30 countries. The company has decided to increase CRO with emphasis on biotech. The importance of Omnicare's CRO segment is to forge working relations with other biotech and pharmaceutical manufactures. They used their relationships with nursing homes to serve as a contract research organization (CRO) to conduct clinical trials for these pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. They are also the leading industry in geriatrics research, which focuses on the well-being and new drug development for the elderly. Like many other CROs, Omnicare processes an experienced therapeutic program that focuses on major health concern, such as cardiovascular and musculoskeletal, in senior citizens.
In 2009, this segment earned $157 million in total revenues.[5]
Key Trends and Forces
Aging Population increase need for Health Care and LTC
In the United States, an aging population known as the baby boomers have all surpassed 44 with some turning 62. These baby boomers account for 25% of the U.S. population, disregarding the 12.7% who are already over the age of 65. It has been noted that the consumption pattern for these baby boomers are drastically different than the average consumer today. Their consumption average of consumer products are higher than the younger generation. The U.S. Census Bureau estimate by 2040, the number of senior citizens age 65 and over will double to 80 million[6]. In the United States, senior citizens over 65 face a 40% chance of enlisting in a nursing home for Long Term Care services[7]. This in turn benefits Omnicare because it is known for being the largest provider for LTC facilities and senior citizens.
Patent Expiration Benefit Omnicare
Omnicare, being an LTC pharmacies, benefits from expired patent drugs entering the generic market. When a drug is on patent, LTC pharmacies are reimbursed by Medicare through the Average Wholesale Price benchmark (benchmark used to negotiate reimbursement rates)[8]. Thus when a drug enter the generic market, Omnicare is able to deal with different suppliers of the same drug and buy it for the lowest possible price.
Many drugs have already gone generic since 2008 and more patents are expiring in 2010. The most important of these drugs are antipsychotic (Janssen Pharmaceutical - Risperdal), antiepileotic (GlaxoSmithKline, Abbott Laboratories, etc. - Anti-psychotics) and Alzheimer's medication (Pfizer - Aricept), in which over 50% of Omnicare's clients are being treated with[9]. It is estimated, in Credit Suisse report, that at least $16 billion of patent drugs in just these three categories alone are expected to join the generic market[10].
Market Share & Competiton
Omnicare Inc. and PharMerica Corp. were the main providers of institutional pharmacy services in the United States. The two companies accounted for 95% of the total revenue generated in the industry, totaling approximately $7.3 billion. Omnicare's $6.02 billion in revenue accounted for 80% of the total market share, and PharMerica's $1.2 billion accounted for the other 15%. The remaining 5% of valued is shared by companies such as Chem Rx (the third largest competitor at 4% total market share).
- PharMerica Corporation - Omnicare's biggest competition accounting for $1.2 billion in revenue in 2007 (15% of industry total)[11]. Formerly operating in connection with Kindred Healthcare Inc and Amerisourcebergen Corp., PharMerica Corporation began operating independently as of Aug. 2007. Unlike drug retail stores, Walgreen Company and CVS Caremark, PharMerica Corporation provides the same services as Omnicare: management pharmaceutical services to LTC facilities. Much smaller than Omnicare Inc., PharMerica Corporation operates 115 institutional pharmacies in 40 states and provides services to 86 hospitals[12].
- Chem Rx Corporation - The third largest provider of institutional pharmaceutical services. The company uses a "third party delivery system" to provide for approximately 65,000 beds in 400+ institutions.
References
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