April 24, 2023 by John O'Brien
John O’Brien is president and chief executive officer of the National Pharmaceutical Council.
April 24, 2023, Opinion

I’d venture to guess that none of my fellow pharmacists has ever heard a customer happily pay a co-payment for a prescription drug. But many patients might yearn for a simple co-payment compared to what they often face more today: large co-insurance obligations and high deductibles. Over the past decade, insurance companies have increasingly changed
January 9, 2023 by John O'Brien
John O’Brien is president and chief executive officer of the National Pharmaceutical Council.
January 9, 2023, Pharmacy

A contentious midterm election is behind us, and while pundits and other experts argue about what the results mean, those of us who deeply care about sound health care policy can hope for a new year where solid evidence and the quest for transparent information matters at least as much as political rhetoric. We’ve come
August 8, 2022 by John O'Brien
John O’Brien is president and chief executive officer of the National Pharmaceutical Council.
August 8, 2022, Opinion

The health of everyone in America who needs a prescription drug is increasingly dependent on a complex system in which pharmacy benefit managers exert an incredible amount of control. This system jeopardizes access to needed medicines and lacks meaningful competition, good reasons why the Federal Trade Commission is giving additional scrutiny. PBMs, as they are
April 26, 2022 by John O'Brien
John O’Brien is president and chief executive officer of the National Pharmaceutical Council.
April 25, 2022, June 13, 2022, Opinion

The broad array of medicines available, from the newest innovation to the most tried-and-true generic, saves and improves the lives of patients everywhere, providing tremendous value. But the ecosystem in the United States that results in innovative medications being discovered and ultimately dispensed to patients at the pharmacy counter is hampered by an opaque pricing
January 3, 2022 by John O'Brien
John O’Brien NPC
Featured Articles, January 10, 2022, Leading Headlines, Opinion, Pharmacy

As we head full steam into 2022, it is my hope that the new year brings about a much more informed public discussion about the important role prescription drugs play in our health care system and in improving the lives of patients. That would be a marked change from the past year, which prioritized rhetoric
August 18, 2021 by John O'Brien
John O’Brien is president and chief executive officer of the National Pharmaceutical Council.
August 9, 2021, Opinion

The last 18 months have been a tremendous reminder of the positive impact that American health care innovation delivers for patients when stakeholders work together. The coronavirus pandemic has been a terrible tragedy that challenged all of us. But the way the American health system has stepped up to that challenge is inspiring. From manufacturing