The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) is beginning the DrugBenefitSolutions national campaign, in which it seeks to explain how pharmacy benefits managers (PBM) are helping to reduce the price of medications and assist consumers, as well as employers and unions.
"PBMs will save consumers, employers, unions, and government programs $654 billion over the next decade," PCMA president and CEO Mark Merritt said.
On the other hand, the new agenda of drugstores would seek to increase their profit, while costing consumers more.
Among the independent drugstore lobby agenda is H.R. 1939, which would increase spending over the next 10 years by $21 billion; H.R. 1316, which would increase generic medication prices; and H.R. 1038, which would make drugstores more profitable, while making taxpayers pay more.
It is for the above reasons that PBMs are being presented in a positive light.
"While independent drugstores play a vital role, their lobby's agenda unfortunately would raise costs and undermine competition," Merritt said.
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