Common
03-16-2018, 10:10 AM
Finally legislation that will Help ALL americans and stop this stranglehold drug makers have on us all. Will it pass ? I doubt it, too many in congress make tons off of pharmaceuticals.
Senators pursue bills to end pharmaceutical ‘gag clauses’ that keep prices high
A group of bipartisan senators wants to remove barriers that prevent pharmacists from telling customers about cheaper options for prescription drugs.
The senators introduced two bills aimed at prohibiting insurers and drug price negotiators called pharmacy benefit managers from putting “pharmacy gag clauses” in contracts. The clause prevents a pharmacy from telling a customer he can buy a drug cheaper out of pocket instead of going through his insurance plan.
“Multiple reports have exposed how this egregious practice has harmed consumers, such as one customer who used his insurance to pay $129 for a drug when he could have paid $18 out of pocket,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, one of the sponsors of the bill. “Americans have the right to know which payment method — insurance or cash — would provide the most savings when purchasing prescription drugs."
One of the bills, called the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act, targets the gag clause. It applies to plans offered on Obamacare’s exchanges and by private employers.
The other bill, the Know the Lowest Price Act, provides the same protection for people covered by Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans.
The legislation is part of a larger push by Congress to improve transparency for healthcare prices. The effort includes boosting transparency for how much routine medical procedures cost in addition to greater transparency on drug prices.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar chided pharmacy benefit managers in a speech last week, saying the groups need to be more transparent on how they negotiate and spend rebates from drug makers. PBMs run prescription drug plans for health plans and negotiate with drug makers for discounts.
The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, which represents PBMs, said that is not a normal practice in the industry.
"Fortunately, to the degree this issue was ever rooted in more than anecdotal information, it has been addressed in the marketplace," the organization said.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, John Barrasso of Wyoming and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana joined Democratic Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan in sponsoring the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act.
Stabenow, Collins, McCaskill, Barrasso, Cassidy and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., sponsored the Know the Lowest Price Act.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/senators-pursue-bills-to-end-pharmaceutical-gag-clauses-that-keep-prices-high
Senators pursue bills to end pharmaceutical ‘gag clauses’ that keep prices high
A group of bipartisan senators wants to remove barriers that prevent pharmacists from telling customers about cheaper options for prescription drugs.
The senators introduced two bills aimed at prohibiting insurers and drug price negotiators called pharmacy benefit managers from putting “pharmacy gag clauses” in contracts. The clause prevents a pharmacy from telling a customer he can buy a drug cheaper out of pocket instead of going through his insurance plan.
“Multiple reports have exposed how this egregious practice has harmed consumers, such as one customer who used his insurance to pay $129 for a drug when he could have paid $18 out of pocket,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, one of the sponsors of the bill. “Americans have the right to know which payment method — insurance or cash — would provide the most savings when purchasing prescription drugs."
One of the bills, called the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act, targets the gag clause. It applies to plans offered on Obamacare’s exchanges and by private employers.
The other bill, the Know the Lowest Price Act, provides the same protection for people covered by Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans.
The legislation is part of a larger push by Congress to improve transparency for healthcare prices. The effort includes boosting transparency for how much routine medical procedures cost in addition to greater transparency on drug prices.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar chided pharmacy benefit managers in a speech last week, saying the groups need to be more transparent on how they negotiate and spend rebates from drug makers. PBMs run prescription drug plans for health plans and negotiate with drug makers for discounts.
The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, which represents PBMs, said that is not a normal practice in the industry.
"Fortunately, to the degree this issue was ever rooted in more than anecdotal information, it has been addressed in the marketplace," the organization said.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, John Barrasso of Wyoming and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana joined Democratic Sens. Claire McCaskill of Missouri and Debbie Stabenow of Michigan in sponsoring the Patient Right to Know Drug Prices Act.
Stabenow, Collins, McCaskill, Barrasso, Cassidy and Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., sponsored the Know the Lowest Price Act.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/healthcare/senators-pursue-bills-to-end-pharmaceutical-gag-clauses-that-keep-prices-high