The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) slammed pharmacy benefit managers for pursuing profit over client interests after a report from AARP found retail prices of brand-name drugs skyrocketed in 2009.

With an annual 2010 average per covered employee health cost of just over $10,000, this means employers will see an increase of $100 to $200, which will be in addition to expected average annual cost increases of 8 percent to 10 percent.

The Eastbridge Voluntary Industry Confidence Index climbed to 84 percent for 2010; a year ago, only about 73 percent of respondents were predicting new group growth.