WASHINGTON — Sen. Ron Wyden (D., Ore.) has introduced the Creating Transparency to Have Drug Rebates Unlocked Act (C-THRU), aimed at bringing more visibility into prescription drug pricing by pharmacy benefit managers. The C-THRU legislation, initiated Wednesday in the Senate Finance Committee, would require PBMs serving Medicare Part D plans to disclose the aggregate rebates
A half-dozen congressmen pointed a finger at pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) on the floor of the House of Representatives last week in an hour of comments on the high cost of prescriptions drugs, the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) said in its Executive Update e-newsletter. In the session, Reps. Doug Collins (R., Ga.), Brian Babin
WASHINGTON — Reps. Morgan Griffith (R., Va.) and Peter Welch (D., Vt.) have reintroduced the Improving Transparency and Accuracy in Medicare Part D Spending Act (H.R. 1038), which community pharmacies say would squelch a growing burden: retroactive direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees. The bill, introduced Wednesday in the House of Representatives, would ban the application
With high prescription drug costs a pillar of the national debate on health care, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) is trying to shed some light on drug pricing. The Washington, D.C.-based PBM trade group on Wednesday released a video titled, “What is drug price transparency?”. PCMA said the goal is to show how transparency
(*Note: Go to 42:05 of video for Cuomo’s discussion of prescription drug costs.) ALBANY, N.Y. — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled a three-pronged plan to check soaring prescription drug prices, which he called a “tremendous problem” for the state and its residents. In his 2017 State of the State address on Wednesday, Cuomo proposed
ALEXANDRIA, Va. — In comments to Congress, the National Community Pharmacists Association called for more oversight of pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies. NCPA said payers, pharmacy patients and pharmacists could see “tangible benefits” from increased transparency into PBM business practices and potential conflicts of interests. The association submitted its comments to the House Committee on
WASHINGTON — Preferred pharmacies for Medicare Part D drug plans are more accessible in suburbs and rural areas than in cities, a study by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has found. “While we appreciate the importance of providing lower costs to beneficiaries, these findings reinforce CMS’ concern that plans are offering access
