Among one of the most pressing issues in American politics is prescription drug costs, and for good reason. Even patients with insurance are being forced to pay more out of pocket for their prescriptions. As the American health care system gets more complex and convoluted, solving this problem is becoming more difficult. One reason for this is the drug industry’s hidden middlemen — pharmacy benefit managers.
Read MoreThe Association of Women in Rheumatology (AWIR), National Organization of Rheumatology Managers (NORM), and Rheumatology Nurses Society (RNS) announced today that they have joined the Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP), a coalition of provider and patient groups concerned about the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in driving up drug costs.
Read MoreThe Florida Society of Rheumatology, New York State Rheumatology Society, and California Rheumatology Alliance today became the newest members of the Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP), a new coalition of provider and patient groups concerned about the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in driving up drug costs.
Read MoreHealth leaders today announced the launch of the Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP), a coalition of provider and patient groups concerned about the practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) driving up drug costs.
Read MoreBy Dr. Robert Levin, President of the Florida Society of Rheumatology
Over my 28 years as a practicing rheumatologist, I have progressively been denied my authority to prescribe the best medicines for my patients.The problem is a process called “step therapy,” which allows insurance plans to force physicians to prescribe less effective – and cheaper – drugs before they can use the medications they had in mind all along. This is a bad idea, and the Florida Legislature should correct it immediately.