Posted on Jul 7, 2023
What to know about the drug price fight in those TV ads
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https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/07/07/ [login to see] /pharmacy-benefit-manager-pbm-ads-congress
In recent months ominous ads about prescription drugs have flooded the TV airwaves. Perhaps by design, it's not always clear who's sponsoring the ads or why.
Or, for that matter, why now?
The short answer is that Congress is paying attention. House and Senate members from both parties have launched at least nine bills, parts of which may be packaged together this fall, that take aim at pharmacy benefit managers, companies that channel prescription drugs to patients. Here's a primer to help you decipher what's happening.
In recent months ominous ads about prescription drugs have flooded the TV airwaves. Perhaps by design, it's not always clear who's sponsoring the ads or why.
Or, for that matter, why now?
The short answer is that Congress is paying attention. House and Senate members from both parties have launched at least nine bills, parts of which may be packaged together this fall, that take aim at pharmacy benefit managers, companies that channel prescription drugs to patients. Here's a primer to help you decipher what's happening.
What to know about the drug price fight in those TV ads
Posted from npr.org
TV
Medical
Health
Drugs
Pharmaceuticals
Posted 12 mo ago
Responses: 2
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So many drugs and often unclear what they are supposed to be treating. My philosophy is take as few as possible
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."What are pharmacy benefit managers?
Known as PBMs, these companies were created in the 1960s to help employers and insurers select and purchase medications for their health plans. The industry mushroomed as prescription drug spending grew about 200-fold between 1967 and 2021. In addition to negotiating discounts with manufacturers, PBMs set payment terms for the pharmacies that buy and dispense the drugs to patients. In effect, they are the dominant middlemen among drugmakers, drugstores, insurers, employers, and patients."...
..."What are pharmacy benefit managers?
Known as PBMs, these companies were created in the 1960s to help employers and insurers select and purchase medications for their health plans. The industry mushroomed as prescription drug spending grew about 200-fold between 1967 and 2021. In addition to negotiating discounts with manufacturers, PBMs set payment terms for the pharmacies that buy and dispense the drugs to patients. In effect, they are the dominant middlemen among drugmakers, drugstores, insurers, employers, and patients."...
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