NACDS is applauding the passage of the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act (H.R. 5378) by the U.S. House of Representatives today.
The bill — which was introduced by U.S. Representative Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) on September 8 — is a vital aspect of pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform. Among its provisions, it addresses the “pharmaceutical benefit manipulation” that harms the most vulnerable in Medicaid.
“House passage of the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act is a major step toward achieving real and comprehensible PBM reform that includes the most vulnerable in Medicaid and Medicare,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson. “NACDS thanks U.S. Representatives Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Jason Smith (R-MO) and Frank Pallone (D-NJ) for their bipartisan leadership in bringing this important bill to the full House for a vote.
“We also appreciate U.S. Representatives Buddy Carter (R-GA), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Rick Allen (R-GA) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA) for their bipartisan commitment to crack down on tactics by which pharmaceutical middlemen maximize profits at the expense of people, pharmacies and others.”
Carter, Gonzalez, Stefanik, Ross, Allen and Auchincloss were the original co-sponsors of the NACDS-backed Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act – whose provisions were included in the newly passed bipartisan bill.
Anderson also emphasized the need to ensure PBM reform for all Americans, saying, “Overall, NACDS is advocating for comprehensive PBM reform across all payer segments, consistent with NACDS’ Principles of PBM Reform. At the federal level, it is imperative that Congress acts swiftly on the fact that real PBM reform includes Americans in the Medicaid and Medicare programs, and the pharmacies that serve them.
“In addition to passing H.R. 5378 this week, NACDS also urges support for other legislation related to Medicare and Medicaid that is the strong and bipartisan work product of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Further, NACDS urges support for H.R. 5400, the Neighborhood Options for Patients Buying Medicines (NO PBMs) Act and vital enforcement provisions, the Senate versions of which have advanced unanimously through the Senate Finance Committee.”
NACDS appreciates the bipartisan collaboration and work across the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to deliver meaningful reform – and urges the U.S. Congress to finish the job.
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