Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) recently announced that it has initiated litigation proceedings in federal court in response to a pair of state laws which it believes jeopardizes patient safety and concurrently increases prescription costs.
PCMA filed a lawsuit against North Dakota for its two Senate bills, SB 2258 and SB 2301, which the association states will hike drug costs and compromise consumer protection, particularly for state employers and Medicare beneficiaries.
SB 2258 and SB 2301 were enacted on April 5 in North Dakota through efforts of the state House Industry, Business and Labor Committee.
The problem, the organization said, lies in the inherent restrictions placed on health care plans when it comes to rewarding drugstores that have demonstrated a willingness to strive for goals to increase use of generic medications, improve prescription adherence and additionally decrease inappropriate use of drugs.
“These laws would increase prescription drug costs for consumers and the employers and unions that provide health benefits,” PCMA president and CEO Mark Merritt said from the association’s Washington, D.C. headquarters.
PCMA is the national association representing America's pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs oversee prescription drug plans for over 266 million Americans who have obtained their health insurance from a broad array of sponsors.
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