Abstract: A method includes receiving a prescription benefit request and identifying one or more covered alternative drugs. The method also includes identifying one or more additional alternative drugs based on at least one of the requested drug and determining whether the one or more additional alternative drugs includes at least one covered additional alternative drug. The method also includes determining, for each of the at least one covered additional alternative drug and the one or more covered alternative drugs, an alternative drug value. The method also includes identifying the at least one covered additional alternative drug and the one or more covered alternative drugs having a lowest alternative drug value and generating a request response indicating at least the alternative drug of the at least one covered additional alternative drug and the one or more covered alternative drugs having the lowest alternative drug value.