Pharmacy

Urgent Call for Reform: How Pharmacy Benefit Managers Contribute to Prescription Unaffordability and What States Are Doing About It

by

In the United States, the escalating cost of prescription drugs is forcing many to sacrifice essential medications, despite systems in place meant to safeguard affordable access. A crucial player in this scenario is the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), whose role in the healthcare system is pivotal yet fraught with critical issues that need immediate address. PBMs, operating primarily as intermediaries between drug manufacturers and healthcare plans, dictate the availability and price of medications through formularies they control. They negotiate deals with drugmakers and manage pharmacy benefits for various employers and government-initiated health plans like Medicare … Read more

Pharmacy Benefit Managers and Drug Companies Face Lawsuit for Inflating Insulin Prices, Targeting Vulnerable Patients in Indiana

by

Indianapolis, Indiana – The Attorney General of Indiana, Todd Rokita, has filed a lawsuit alleging that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and drug companies have colluded to maintain high insulin prices. Rokita claims that these companies are exploiting vulnerable individuals in need of this vital medication. The lawsuit does not specifically name the drug company Eli Lilly, even though it settled a class-action lawsuit last year over allegations of insulin price fixing for over $13 million. Among the companies named in the lawsuit are Caremark PCS and CVS Healthcorp, both associated with CVS, one of the … Read more

Senate Finance Committee Demands Stronger Restrictions on Pharmacy Data Sharing with Law Enforcement

by

New York, NY – The proposed HIPAA rules regarding provider disclosures to law enforcement have come under scrutiny by the Senate Finance Committee. In a letter addressed to Xavier Becerra, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the committee raised concerns about pharmacies sharing patient data with law enforcement without proper warrants. The letter emphasized the sensitivity and potential stigmatization of prescription information, calling for stricter regulations in three areas: requiring warrants before sharing information, preventing sharing between law enforcement agencies, and mandating notification when information is disclosed. Pharmacies and other … Read more