Posted by Michael Wonder on 03 Jul 2018
Pair of Democrat senators probe drug pricing 'middlemen,' distributors over high costs
2 July 2018 - Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Tina Smith are probing nine drug distributors and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) over their role in high drug prices.
Warren and Smith are asking the companies to respond to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar's comments that drug companies want to reduce prices but are being blocked by PBMs and drug distributors.
PBMs manage drug benefits for insurers and employers, trying to get the best deal for both parties, but critics have argued that they drive up costs by negotiating secret deals and rebates with drug manufacturers.
