Senators Hassan, Blackburn, Colleagues Introduce the “Patients Before Middlemen Act” to Bring Down Cost of Prescription Drugs

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Today, U.S. SenatorsMarsha Blackburn(R-Tenn.),Maggie Hassan(D-N.H.), andMark Warner(D-Va.) released the following statements after introducing thePatients Before Middlemen (PBM) Act, which would delink the compensation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from drug price and utilization. It would also ensure fair treatment of all pharmacies by requiring Medicare Part D plans to contract with any willing pharmacy that meets reasonable terms and conditions.
“The Patients Before Middlemen Act would increase transparency and reduce prescription drug costs for seniors at the pharmacy counter. For too long, middlemen have taken advantage of misaligned incentives in the pharmaceutical supply chain at the expense of taxpayers and seniors. We need to put patients before the profits of pharmacy benefit managers,”said Senator Blackburn.
“Seniors shouldn’t have to choose between paying for essential medications and other basic needs,”said Senator Hassan. “This bipartisan legislation will help stop pharmacy benefit managers from exploiting loopholes that allow them to drive up drug prices, saving seniors their hard-earned money while also saving taxpayer dollars. I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I will continue to work to lower prescription drug costs for Granite Staters and all Americans.”
“For too long, Seniors on fixed incomes have had to worry about the high cost of prescription drugs. Meanwhile, PBMs continue to contribute to this phenomenon by keeping drug prices high and reimbursements for local pharmacies low. Seniors on Medicare – and the Medicare program itself – can’t afford to be taken advantage of by middlemen who don’t contribute to quality of care. I’m proud to introduce this legislation as part of our ongoing fight to get these policies across the finish line,”said Senator Warner.
SenatorJames Lankford(R-Okla.) co-sponsored this legislation.
BACKGROUND
THE PBM ACT
ThePBM Actwould:
Clickherefor bill text.