(Washington, DC)—The independent pharmacy industry’s lobby has declined to answer important questions raised in a new report about the harmful effects their agenda would have on consumers and employers and is instead attacking the one proven resource available â?? pharmacy benefit managers â?? to lowering prescription drug costs, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) said today. PCMA is the national association representing pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Earlier this week, PCMA published a new report, How the Independent Pharmacy Lobby’s Agenda Undermines Competition, Hurts Consumers, and Increases Costs, that examines the $77 billion independent pharmacy industry and highlights how the industry’s lobbying rhetoric is completely at odds with marketplace reality. As the independent pharmacy lobby gears up to petition lawmakers next week for special protections that would only increase drug costs, this new report raises a number of important questions that policymakers and others are asking and that have yet to be addressed by the independent pharmacy industry lobby, including:

· Why do independent pharmacies charge higher prices to the uninsured than to consumers with PBM-administered drug coverage?

· Why has the independent pharmacy industry lobby opposed the Medicare prescription drug benefit and sued the Administration â?? twice â?? to stop seniors from getting the drug discounts they need?

· Despite being among the top 4 percent wage earners nationally, why is the independent pharmacy industry trying to eliminate competition from mail-service pharmacies?

· Why do independent pharmacists accept cash payments from drug manufacturers to steer consumers toward more profitable drug products? How much of these cash payments are passed on to consumers?

· Why does the independent pharmacy lobby continue to push its agenda even after the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has said its legislative proposals “are likely to undermine the ability of some consumers to obtain the pharmaceuticals and health insurance they need at a price they can afford?”

PBMs administer prescription drug plans for more than 200 million Americans with prescription drug coverage provided through the nation’s large employers, Taft-Hartley union plans, health insurers, state and federal-employee benefit plans, and Medicare Advantage health plans. PBMs help drive down the cost of prescription drugs for consumers and plan sponsors â?? on average by 25 percent â?? by negotiating discounts with drug manufacturers and retail pharmacies. These savings are, in turn, passed on to consumers. PBMs also provide consumers with important quality protections, such as real-time detection of potentially dangerous drug interactions; disease management; and physician and patient education.

The full report is available at PCMA’s website, www.pcmanet.org.

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The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) is the national trade association representing America’s pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PCMA member companies provide pharmaceutical care management services to more than 200 million Americans.

Contact Information:
Phil Blando
202-207-3614