Medicare Part D, Generics, & E-Prescribing Centerpiece
of Pro-Consumer Agenda

(Washington, DC)—As Congress and the Administration seek bipartisan, real-world solutions to improve quality and rein in health-care costs in public and private programs, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) today announced an ambitious agenda for 2007 centered on preserving and enhancing the competitive model in Medicare Part D; expanding access to lower-cost generic drugs; and revolutionizing the prescription-drug delivery system with cutting-edge electronic-prescribing technology.

PCMA is the national association representing America’s pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which lower the cost of prescription drugs for more than 200 million Americans with coverage provided through Fortune 500 employers, health insurers, labor unions, and Medicare Part D.

“At a time when policymakers in Washington are looking for real-world solutions, PCMA has put forward a pro-consumer agenda to improve health care, but without requiring billions of dollars in new federal spending,” said PCMA President Mark Merritt in announcing the new initiative. “PBMs have a proven track record in the private market of driving down prescription drug costs, while ensuring broad access to needed medications through 55,000 retail pharmacies. We urge policymakers to build on this model in 2007. PCMA’s policy agenda is unique in that it would improve the health care system and save consumers, employers, and taxpayers tens of billions of dollars.”

In 2007, PCMA and its member companies will be working on a wide range of issues, including:

· Preserving the PBMs’ cost-saving model in Medicare Part D & the commercial market;

· Creating a legal pathway for biogenerics, or follow-on biologics;

· Adopting a national, uniform electronic (e)-prescribing standard;

· Removing barriers and expanding access to conventional generics;

· Promoting value-based purchasing through comparative effectiveness; and

· Opposing proposals â?? including one-size-fits-all disclosure and independent-pharmacy protection such as sweeping collective bargaining rights and prompt-pay mandates â?? that would result in increased costs for consumers and private and public payors with no corresponding benefit.

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PCMA is the national association representing America’s pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which lower the cost of prescription drugs for more than 200 million Americans with coverage provided through Fortune 500 employers, health insurers, labor unions, and Medicare Part D

Contact Information:
Phil Blando, 202-207-3614
Charles Coté 202-207-3605