ATAP Brings Patients and Providers to Capitol Hill to Advocate for PBM Reform
Alliance for Transparent and Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP) Brings Patients and Providers to Capitol Hill to Advocate for PBM Reform
Coalition Members from Across the Country Ask Congress to End Perverse Incentives and Lower Out-of-Pocket Drug Costs for Patients
[Washington, DC] [May 13, 2025] -- The Alliance of Transparent and Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP), a coalition of more than 20 patient advocacy, medical professional and healthcare organizations committed to addressing prescription drug affordability is on Capitol Hill this week to advocate for comprehensive reforms to the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) system, which continues to drive up prescription drug costs and limit patient access to life-saving treatments.
As part of its May 2025 Hill Day, ATAP members are urging lawmakers to support bipartisan legislation that delinks PBM compensation from the list price of drugs, a reform aimed at eliminating financial incentives that encourage PBMs to prioritize expensive medications over more affordable alternatives.
“Our prescription drug market is broken, and the biggest winners right now are PBMs, not patients,” said Dr. Robert Levin, President of ATAP. “Congress has a clear opportunity to stop rewarding
middlemen for choosing higher-priced drugs and start putting patients first.”
ATAP’s advocacy this week centers on two essential policy reforms:
Delinking PBM income from drug prices, including strong support for the Patients Before Middlemen Act (S. 882) and the Delinking Revenue from Unfair Gouging (DRUG) Act (H.R. 2214), which would ensure PBMs are paid flat service fees—not a cut of the drug’s list price.
Passing through negotiated savings to patients at the point of sale, so that rebates and discounts directly reduce patient out-of-pocket costs, instead of subsidizing insurers or PBMs.
While delinking is the primary focus of the 2025 fly-in, ATAP also continues to press for strong pass-through provisions to be included in any final PBM reform package. These provisions are essential to ensure that patients, not corporate middlemen, benefit from negotiated drug savings.
“We must stop the practice of patients paying inflated prices while PBMs and insurers pocket the discounts,” Dr. Levin added. “Requiring price concessions to be passed through to the patient is basic fairness—and it will make a real difference in people’s lives.”
ATAP’s Capitol Hill delegation includes leading clinicians and patient advocates who are meeting with key members of Congress and staff throughout the day to share firsthand experiences and advocate for meaningful, bipartisan PBM reform.
The group will also meet with influential committee members, including those from the Senate Finance and HELP Committees, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, House Labor-HHS Appropriations members, and the House Energy & Commerce Committee.
This advocacy comes as momentum builds on the Hill for reform. Notably, the House Energy & Commerce Committee included Medicare Part D “delinking” language in Section 44305 of the health title of the budget reconciliation legislation set to be marked up on Tuesday. The section, Modernizing and ensuring PBM accountability, includes the following provisions:
Requires PBMs in Medicare Part D to transparently share information related to business practices with Prescription Drug Plan Sponsors, including formulary decisions and coverage benefiting affiliated pharmacies;
Prohibits PBM compensation based on a drug’s list price, instead limiting it to fair market bona fide service fees; and
Directs CMS to define “reasonable and relevant” contracting terms for enforcing Medicare Part D’s “any willing pharmacy” requirement.
“As policymakers weigh long-overdue PBM reforms, ATAP stands ready to serve as a resource and partner in the effort to restore accountability, fairness, and affordability to the prescription drug system. Patients and providers cannot afford further delay,” Dr. Levin said. “Now is the time for Congress to act.”
About ATAP
ATAP was created in 2017 with a mission to address prescription drugs costs and patient access to affordable treatment by regulating PBM practices and reforming the drug industry through educational outreach and grassroots advocacy initiatives at both the state and federal levels. Driven by the reality that many patients struggle to afford their medications, the physician and patient advocacy organizations joined to shine a light on the abusive practices of PBMs.
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To schedule an interview with an ATAP spokesperson please contact Dan Rene at 202-329-8357 or dan@danrene.com.
Please visit http://www.atapadvocates.com