Jacksonville Watchdog Committee Finds $4.2M in Potential Pharmacy Savings

Duval DOGE panel recommends switching pharmacy benefit manager to boost rebates and cut costs without reducing employee coverage.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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A special Jacksonville city council committee called Duval DOGE says it has identified around $4.2 million in potential annual savings in the city's employee pharmacy benefit plan. The committee's analysis found that switching the city's pharmacy benefit manager from Prime to Express Scripts could significantly increase guaranteed rebates, accounting for most of the projected savings. The committee is now pressing the mayor's office to quickly approve the change before the next budget cycle.

Why it matters

Jacksonville's group health fund has been running a deficit, prompting the city to make plan design and pharmacy rule changes to control costs. The Duval DOGE committee's deep dive review found additional savings opportunities that the administration may have overlooked, which could help address the health plan's financial challenges without reducing employee benefits.

The details

Working with consulting firm The Bailey Group, the Duval DOGE committee concluded that switching the city's pharmacy benefit manager from Prime to Express Scripts could boost guaranteed rebates from around $6.4 million to $10.7 million annually. The analysis also identified other contract issues and cost containment measures that could be implemented. However, the Deegan administration is not fully convinced, with city officials arguing their own consultants have already delivered over $12 million in savings and raising concerns about potential disruptions to patient care from the proposed pharmacy benefit manager swap.

  • The Duval DOGE committee was created to scrutinize department growth and city programs, and is required to report its findings by June 30, 2026.
  • The committee plans to formally present its pharmacy benefit recommendations to the mayor's office in the near future, in hopes of implementing the changes in time to impact the next budget cycle.

The players

Duval DOGE

A special committee created by the Jacksonville City Council to scrutinize department growth and city programs.

The Bailey Group

A consulting firm that worked with the Duval DOGE committee on its pharmacy benefit analysis.

Mayor Donna Deegan

The mayor of Jacksonville who will decide whether to approve the Duval DOGE committee's pharmacy benefit recommendations.

Nick Howland Salem

The chair of the Duval DOGE committee.

Rory Diamond

A Jacksonville City Council member who has proposed creating a permanent independent council committee or subcommittee focused on government spending.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.