ATAP News

Dr. Madelaine Feldman notes the mantra we hear over and over by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) is that they “reduce the cost” of medicines. What they don’t tell us is that they reduce the cost of medicines for themselves – not for the patients.

ATAP thanks the Administration for beginning to correct the perverse incentives in our drug supply chain that have caused sharply increasing list prices and ever-climbing out-of-pocket burdens for patients. We support elimination of the antikickback safe harbor for rebate payments from pharmaceutical manufacturers to PBMs. We also encourage the Administration’s vigilance to ensure that arrangements mimicking rebates do not crop up in their place. ATAP supports allowing manufacturers to provide discounts directly to patients at the point-of-sale and notes that this reform will remove barriers to manufacturers lowering drug prices.

Dr. Madelaine Feldman discusses how, in order to give relief to patients, Washington must change the system that encourages higher list prices, take the billions in “savings” from the pockets of the middleman and allow them to be passed directly to the consumer.

The US Senate Finance Committee is upping the ante on the issue of drug pricing with yet another hearing — this time with pharmacy benefit managers.

During this 28 minute conversation, Dr. Levin discusses ATAP's mission and funding and ATAP's position on the administration's current proposal to reform Medicare Part B drug pricing via reference pricing or via the use of an international price index.  Dr. Levin discusses moreover the administration's current proposal to reform Medicare Part D drug pricing by eliminating or prohibiting drug manufacturers from paying a rebate to pharmaceutical benefit managers (PBMs) and Part D plan sponsors.  This conversation concludes with Dr. Levin's comments concerning the long standing debate whether the Secretary of DHHS should be allowed to negotiate Part D drug prices with manufacturers.  

Dr. Robert Levin gives his thoughts on the confidential system PBMs have created that drive up list prices.

On Dec. 4, Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced new legislation to ensure that drug companies play by the rules of the Medicaid program. The bill is aimed at preventing drug companies from overcharging Medicaid, a practice that has been consistently costing taxpayers billions of dollars. While the legislation is an excellent indicator of future bipartisan cooperation on the issue of prescription drug affordability, much more needs to be done.

Express Scripts' new Flex formulary has been touted as an alternative to the rebate-based system, but who really benefits?

In his Sept. 25 article, “Collins’ bills to ban pharmacy ‘gag clauses’ pass House and Senate,” Staff Writer Joe Lawlor reported that the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act – sponsored by Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins – had been approved by both houses of Congress, along with the Know the Lowest Price Act. On Oct. 10, President Trump signed these bills into law.

Dr. Angus Worthing gives his thoughts on the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act and the Know the Lowest Price Act.