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- How a celebrity turned to a new kind of pharmacy help
- Transparent pricing: What Cost Plus says it offers
- PBM Princess audits Brandi’s bills and challenges overcharges
- Reported savings and price comparisons
- Glanville’s medical journey and the cause of her symptoms
- Why patients should compare pharmacy options
- Ongoing efforts and remaining questions
Brandi Glanville says more than $200,000 in medical bills piled up after a struggle with illness and facial changes, and she has enlisted help from Mark Cuban’s transparent drug pharmacy network to shrink those costs.
How a celebrity turned to a new kind of pharmacy help
When Brandi Glanville reached a breaking point over mounting medical expenses, healthcare consultant Rachel Strauss of PBM Princess connected her with CostPlusDrugs.com. The pharmacy, backed by entrepreneur Mark Cuban, advertises straightforward pricing and a promise to expose the true cost of medications.
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Cuban told reporters that the company aims to eliminate hidden markups and inconsistent fees across cities and states. He framed the model as a direct response to opaque pricing and middlemen who inflate costs.
Transparent pricing: What Cost Plus says it offers
Key elements of the Cost Plus model
- Actual cost shown: The site allegedly lists the wholesale price for thousands of drugs.
- Flat markup: A stated markup of 15 percent is added to the cost price.
- Low shipping fee: A $5 shipping charge is applied.
- Uniform pricing across locations and dates, according to the company.
The pitch is that predictable math replaces the guesswork consumers face at different pharmacies.
PBM Princess audits Brandi’s bills and challenges overcharges
Rachel Strauss described conducting a line-by-line review of Glanville’s pharmacy statements. She found sizable monthly swings in charges for the same exact medicines.
In Strauss’s account, the audit revealed big discrepancies from month to month. She said her role included advocating for refunds and working with pharmacies to identify money that should be returned to Glanville.
- Requested a year of pharmacy payments and examined each line item.
- Identified pricing differences and potential overcharges.
- Initiated transfers where Cost Plus offered lower prices.
Reported savings and price comparisons
Strauss told sources that some of Glanville’s medications were being sold for around $29 to $30 at certain pharmacies, while Cost Plus could refill the same prescriptions for roughly $6 to $8.
She estimated that switching could mean reductions of 70 to 80 percent on some items, and in specific cases she saw more than 75 percent savings in a single click.
Glanville’s medical journey and the cause of her symptoms
On her podcast, Glanville described a multi-year ordeal that began with vague symptoms that later worsened. She reported brain fog, joint pain and changes to her facial appearance that prompted her to consult many specialists.
After seeing numerous doctors, Glanville learned that a ruptured breast implant had leaked silicone. Surgeons found silicone in lymph nodes, and she said her symptoms lessened once the implants were removed.
She also stated that she had insurance but still paid large sums out of pocket for tests and specialist visits. Glanville cited frustration with the insurance process and the financial burden of chasing a diagnosis.
Why patients should compare pharmacy options
Healthcare experts say pricing can vary widely among pharmacies and that patients rarely see a transparent breakdown of costs. PBM Princess and Cost Plus promote price visibility as a way for patients to spot inflated charges.
Steps to consider if you suspect overcharges:
- Request a detailed bill for the past year from your pharmacy.
- Compare listed prices to alternative providers, including transparent online pharmacies.
- Ask for refunds if you find overpayments or unexplained markups.
- Consider transferring prescriptions to a lower-cost, transparent provider.
Advocacy and price transparency were central to Strauss’s approach with Glanville. She argued that many patients accept pharmacy statements as gospel when they should question unusual fluctuations.
Ongoing efforts and remaining questions
Strauss said she is working with pharmacies to reconcile what Brandi paid and to secure refunds where appropriate. Glanville, meanwhile, continues follow-up care after implant removal and ongoing medical evaluation.
The episode highlights larger debates over pharmacy benefit managers, inconsistent drug pricing and the potential for newer models to deliver immediate out-of-pocket savings for consumers.
