The Federal Trade Commission Provides Opportunity to Weigh in on Impact of Pharmacy Benefit Managers Practices

 

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently announced it is soliciting public input on the ways that practices by large, vertically integrated pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are impacting prescription drug affordability and access. The Request for Information (RFI) covers a wide range of issues, including contract terms, rebates, fees, pricing policies, steering methods, conflicts of interest, and consolidation. NACHC’s long template and short template letters raise a concern about PBMs’ unfair and anti-competitive business practices that impede health centers’ ability to serve the most vulnerable patients. The templates also discuss how PBMs target 340B covered entities and institute discriminatory practices pickpocketing 340B savings. Comments are due by May 25 on regulations.gov.