ATAP Urges CMS to Rethink International Drug Pricing Models That Ignore PBM Cost Drivers
The Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP) Action Network submitted formal comments to CMS expressing serious concerns about the proposed GLOBE and GUARD drug pricing models. While intended to lower Medicare drug costs by benchmarking prices to certain OECD countries, ATAP argues the proposals fail to address the primary driver of high U.S. prices: pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices. The letter highlights how rebate structures, formulary manipulation, and opaque pricing systems increase list prices and patient out-of-pocket costs, urging policymakers to pursue reforms that directly target PBM incentives rather than adopting international pricing benchmarks that do not reflect the realities of the U.S. pharmaceutical market.