The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) has released a statement regarding President Trump's recent executive order on Most Favored Nation drug pricing. The statement, issued by NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey, highlights the complexities of drug pricing and calls for more information on the executive order.
Hoey emphasized the need to scrutinize pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices, which he claims contribute to increased drug costs. He stated, "We urge President Trump to continue to focus on PBM middlemen and the way they artificially inflate the price of prescription drugs to pad their pockets." Hoey also noted that the United States pays more for drugs than any other country and suggested a connection between this fact and the role of PBMs in controlling drug prices.
The NCPA supports removing PBMs from the supply chain, advocating instead for patients to access lower drug prices through local pharmacists who are medication experts. Hoey stated, "We support a system that cuts out the PBM middlemen," but cautioned against bypassing patient safety by excluding pharmacists from these efforts.
Founded in 1898, the NCPA represents over 18,900 pharmacies employing more than 205,000 individuals across the nation. The association positions community pharmacies as key health care providers within local communities.
For further information about NCPA and its initiatives, visit www.ncpa.org.
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