Pharmacy Benefit Managers and Drug Pricing in the U.S.
House Speaker Mike Johnson expects a spending bill to be released soon, including a crackdown on Pharmacy Benefit Manager middlemen to reduce drug prices for seniors. The bill aligns with President-elect Donald Trump's healthcare agenda, aiming to deliver savings to seniors by delinking PBM fees from drug prices.
Key Points
- PBMs control about 80% of the market and influence drug pricing
- Trump introduced policies to benefit seniors directly from drug rebates
- Efforts to reset money-making incentives to benefit patients
Pros
- Potential reduction in drug prices for seniors
- Efforts to deliver savings directly to patients
Cons
- Control and influence of PBMs over drug access and pricing
- Repeal of Trump's drug rebate rule by Joe Biden