NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Lou Graham, who won the U.S. Open in 1975 and five other PGA Tour events, has died. He was 88.
The PGA Tour and USGA said Graham died Monday. Friend Joe Taggert, a golf pro at Richland Country Club where Graham was a member, told The Tennessean that he had been in hospice care.
Graham won the U.S. Open by beating John Mahaffey by two strokes at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois.
His other PGA wins were the Minnesota Golf Classic in 1967 and the Liggett and Myers Open in 1972. He also won the Valero Texas Open, the IVB Philadelphia Golf Classic and the CVS Charity Classic, all in 1979. For those victories, he won the Comeback of the Year award presented by Golf Digest.
In 1977, he finished second at the U.S. Open, losing by one stroke to Hubert Green at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
On the Senior Tour, later known as the PGA Tour Champions, Graham's best finish was a tie for third at the AT&T Championship in 1990.
He joined the PGA Tour in 1964, winning more than $1.4 million in his career, plus $600,000 on the Senior Tour, which he joined in 1988.
He played on Ryder Cup teams in 1973, 1975 and 1977.
Graham was born in Nashville and attended then-Memphis State University before being drafted into the Army.
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
FILE - Lou Graham has a wave for the crowd after sinking a birdie putt on the fifth hole during a playoff against John Mahaffey, Jr., at the U.S. Open golf tournament, June 23, 1975, at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - Lou Graham, of Nashville, hits out of a sand trap at the second hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at the Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill., June 22, 1975. (AP Photo/File)
FILE - Lou Graham is flanked by his daughter, Louanne, left, and his wife, Patsy, as he carries the trophy after defeating John Mahaffey, Jr., in a playoff at the U.S. Open golf tournament, June 23, 1975, at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill. (AP Photo/File)
MADISON, Wis.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 13, 2026--
Navitus today released its 10 th annual Drug Trend Report, “Clarity for Action,” the company’s flagship annual analysis of prescription drug cost trends. The report details how utilization growth and therapeutic innovation drove prescription drug costs in 2025 and outlines clear actions for health plans and plan sponsors to counter accelerating pressure.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260513505747/en/
Across the Navitus commercial book of business, net prescription drug costs increased 8.4%, up from 7% in 2024, largely reflecting demand for high‑cost specialty medications. Despite industry pressures, Navitus enabled 32% of clients to pay less in 2025 than in 2024, and 44% to limit increases to no more than 5%. The Navitus trend also remained below double-digit increases seen in the industry.
“Drug trend is no longer driven primarily by price inflation. It’s also being driven by increased utilization and expanded indications,” said Sharon Faust, Navitus Senior Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer. “Existing therapies with broader indications are gaining earlier adoption. These advances demand deliberate, informed management to ensure that costs remain sustainable.”
Specialty and non‑specialty trends shape drug trend
Specialty medications remained the largest driver of drug costs in 2025, with an 11.1% increase. Growth came from increased utilization, particularly in oncology, immunology and dermatology. Biosimilars provided relief by lowering unit costs, but utilization of high‑impact therapies continued to exert upward pressure.
Non‑specialty drug costs increased 5.6%, reflecting rising utilization and steady unit‑cost growth. Diabetes therapies, especially GLP‑1 medications, played a major role, with Mounjaro representing the single largest cost-growth medication. Without GLP-1s, the overall Navitus drug trend was 7.9%. Migraine treatments added trend pressure as well. These increases were partially offset by generic drug launches and reduced utilization in ADHD, cardiovascular and antiviral medications.
“What stands out is how quickly utilization patterns are changing,” Faust said. “Members and prescribers are moving rapidly toward newer and more effective therapies. That shift is happening across nearly every major category.”
Looking ahead: Trend pressures expected to intensify
Drug trend is expected to accelerate in 2026 and beyond, with new biologics and targeted therapies entering the market at premium prices. Utilization is also expected to climb as therapies gain earlier and expanded use. In non‑specialty categories, GLP‑1 medications are expected to remain a dominant cost driver, supported by broader prescriber adoption and patient demand. Migraine care also is expected to continue shifting toward higher‑cost brand-name medications.
What health plans and plan sponsors can do
The report emphasizes that rising drug trend is not inevitable or uncontrollable, but it does require early, informed action. Navitus experts identify proven strategies for managing trend, including:
“Plans have more control than they often realize,” Faust said. “The key is clarity to know what’s driving trend early and having a pharmacy solutions partner that acts quickly with disciplined, evidence‑based options.”
To access the full report, visit: https://navitus.com/drug-trend-reports/2025-drug-trend-report/?utm_campaign=100247_2025_drug_trend_report_dtr&utm_medium=press_release&utm_source=businesswire
“This report is about understanding what forces are driving costs and what actions make a difference,” Faust said. “As drug trend accelerates, plans and plan sponsors need insight they can trust and strategies they can deploy in time to matter.”
About Navitus
Navitus remains the nation’s first transparent, pass-through pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), serving more than 13 million lives nationwide. It uniquely brings clarity to drug pricing and takes costs out of the drug supply chain. Unlike traditional PBMs that generate profit by retaining an undisclosed portion of rebates and discounts negotiated with drug manufacturers and pharmacies, Navitus passes along the complete savings to clients, enabling them to make medication more affordable for their members. The Navitus PBM was established more than 20 years ago by Navitus Health Solutions, LLC, a pioneering pharmacy solutions company. The organization delivers a range of services through portfolio brands including Navitus, Lumicera, Archimedes and Clarventa. Owned by SSM Health and Costco, Navitus Health Solutions serves nearly 20 million lives across 800 clients including employers, unions, government plans, payers and health systems.
Biosimilars reduced projected drug spend by $56 million in 2025 for Navitus clients, showing how switching from brand-name medications to lower-cost alternatives can help offset rising specialty drug costs. The chart compares projected spending without biosimilars to actual costs with adoption.
Specialty drugs drove prescription costs higher in 2025, with spending up 11.1% as increased utilization — particularly in oncology, immunology and dermatology — outpaced changes in unit cost. Biosimilars provided some relief by lowering unit costs, but utilization of high-impact therapies continued to push overall spending higher.
