Forbes October 15, 2019
When the Trump administration dropped the drug rebate rule it introduced back in January – a rule that intended to prohibit pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from pocketing some of the rebates they should be passing along to patients – the decision sent shockwaves through the healthcare industry, particularly the pharma sector.
PBMs were obviously pleased, and many healthcare and consumer advocates outraged. Understandably so, given how expensive some drugs are and how impossible it is for some people to purchase the life-saving medications they need – insulin especially.
However, almost everyone engaging in this debate is failing to see one very important thing: More legislation isn’t the answer. If we want to really address drug prices, and the healthcare industry...