(Washington, DC)—Today’s announcement from researchers at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that prescription drug spending slowed to its lowest growth rate in the past decade — driven down in large part by increased reliance on generic drugs and mail-service pharmacies — marks a turning point in the prescription drug debate and demonstrates clear pathways for policymakers and purchasers to contain costs and expand access to prescription drugs in the years ahead, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) said today.

“As the old saying goes, everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts. It should be noted that the very FTC report that NCPA now attacks was demanded by the drugstore lobby—not PBMs—during its campaign to defeat the Medicare drug benefit and discredit its cost-saving tools.

“Ironically, after an exhaustive 18-month study, the FTC concluded that:

�· PBM-owned mail-service pharmacies provide lower drug prices than
drugstores and mail-service pharmacies owned by retail chains;

�· Average prices at PBM-owned mail-order pharmacies typically were lower
than retail-owned mail-service pharmacies and chain drugstores;

Ã?· The FTC report repeatedly notes that PBMs’ interests are aligned with those of its employer and health-plan customers; and

Ã?· The report labels the retail pharmacy lobby’s claims on these issues to be “without merit.”

“Those who can’t stomach this outcome might be advised to simply ‘move on’ instead of shining a new spotlight on credible, independent reports which undermine their most basic claims.”

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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
Charles Coté 202-207-3605