A new op-ed by Dr. Chris Stansbury details a potential new approach for Congress in controlling prescription drug prices: regulating pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs). PBMs are middlemen in the pharmaceutical supply chain, originally created to assist manufacturers in getting their drug to consumers. However, PBMs often serve as a barrier to consumers receiving manufacturer rebates and discounts, with PBMs receiving over $160 billion in rebates and discounts in 2018. Dr. Stansbury points to a recent West Virginia law as a potential solution, as the law requires PBMs to pass on some of the discounts they receive to patients. Dr. Stansbury argues that this solution could present an effective means of controlling prescription drug prices around the country and at little to no cost to consumers. Read the op-ed here.
Last Updated on May 13, 2021 by Aimed Alliance
