Congress has a rare chance to lower drug prices
Medical Economics December 9, 2024
Key Takeaways
- PBMs control drug access, negotiating discounts but retaining savings, leading to high patient costs and nonadherence.
- Bipartisan bills propose reforms to delink PBM compensation from drug prices and base patient cost-sharing on net prices.
- PBM practices contribute to preventable deaths, increased healthcare costs, and strain on healthcare systems.
- Reforming PBM practices is crucial for a transparent, patient-centered system, with strong bipartisan support for change.
PBMs are powerful middlemen that control prescription drug access for millions of Americans, and their business model is nefarious — but currently legal.
Concerns about high drug prices can take a significant toll on Americans every day. A new West Health-Gallup study recently found that a mere 55% of Americans believe they...