The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) is urging the U.S. Department of Justice, Department of Health and Human Services, and Federal Trade Commission to continue their leadership “to create a fairer and competitive healthcare marketplace” and to “better understand the grave challenges in pharmacies across America.”
In a letter, NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson pressed the case for the federal agencies to address harmful tactics of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in response to the agencies’ request-for-information about consolidation in the healthcare market.
Anderson detailed PBM tactics resulting in below-cost reimbursement to pharmacies, steering of patients to pharmacies affiliated with PBMs and insurers, and other consequences.
He stated, “These issues have been exacerbated by the absence of legislative and regulatory transparency and oversight guardrails, the cyberattack on Change Healthcare, and the competition-eroding practices of PBMs that impact timely patient access, pharmacy sustainability, overall healthcare costs, and pharmacy’s innovative vision to empower patients’ total health and wellness.”
He emphasized the ultimate impact on Americans of unmitigated PBM tactics, including: “inflationary effects on drug prices, restrictions on patients’ access to medications, higher healthcare costs for patients and prescription abandonment, and less competition in healthcare.”
Anderson urged the agencies to “keep prioritizing the issue of PBM reform until pharmacies and patients have relief and sustainable solutions.” He also urged the U.S. Congress to “continue to work toward a pathway to advance PBM reforms because pharmacies cannot wait until 2025, 2026, or beyond for these issues to be addressed.”
NACDS’ engagement in this RFI reflects NACDS’ comprehensive approach to PBM reform advocacy at all branches and all levels of government, to advance the NACDS Principles of PBM Reform.
