Becker's Healthcare July 23, 2024
An investigation by federal lawmakers found that pharmacy-benefit managers promised to control costs but have instead steered patients toward higher-priced medicines and affiliated pharmacies that reduce patient choice, The Wall Street Journal reported July 23.
A House Committee on Oversight and Accountability investigation found PBMs devised formulas for preferred medications that encouraged use of higher-priced drugs. It also found that Express Scripts sent messages to patients saying they would pay more to fill at their local pharmacy, but less for a three-month supply by using the affiliated mail-order pharmacy.
“While this is made to appear to benefit the patient, what it is instead doing in practice is limiting a patient’s ability to choose their own pharmacy,” the committee wrote.
The...
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