(Washington, DC)—Mark Merritt, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA), issued the following statement in response to the introduction of S. 975, the Project BioShield II Act of 2005:

” As policymakers work to develop countermeasures to bioterrorism, it is essential that they take into account the human and economic effects these proposals would have on the current health care marketplace. For example, the Project Bioshield II Act contains patent extension provisions that are sharply at odds with bipartisan efforts to reduce health care costs, to expand access to coverage for the uninsured, and to implement a workable and cost-effective Medicare prescription drug benefit.

” Based upon an initial review of the legislation, PCMA has serious concerns that patent extension provisions contained in the proposal could have the unintended consequence of increasing prescription drug costs for consumers and purchasers throughout the entire health care system, including in the commercial marketplace and in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

” As this debate continues, PCMA looks forward to reviewing this proposal in greater detail and in assessing its impact on prescription drug costs for consumers and purchasers throughout the entire health care system.”

” PCMA believes that a strong national defense policy should and must include efforts to develop new countermeasures to help combat the threat of bioterrorism. PCMA applauds Senators Hatch, Lieberman, and Brownback for their longstanding efforts to address this critically important national issue.”

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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