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[STK]
[IN] HEA MTC REA PHA
[SU] AVO LEG SCZ NPT
TO HEALTH, MEDICAL, AND NATIONAL EDITORS:
New Legislation Will Empower Independent Drugstores to Charge
Employers and Consumers Higher Prices for Prescription Drugs
WASHINGTON, April 3, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Legislation that
(SB 1014) passed out of the Florida Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
on General Government would create new powers for independent
drugstores to charge employers, seniors and unions higher prices for
generic drugs, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA)
said today.
The new legislation, along with a similar bill (HB 765), undermines
the use of Maximum Allowable Cost (MAC) generic drug lists that
employers and public programs use to prevent them from overpaying for
generic drugs and could increase Florida's prescription drug costs by
$422.5 million annually. MACs are necessary because generics - unlike
brands - often have inflated manufacturer "list" prices that don't
reflect what a pharmacy actually spent to buy the drug. These MAC
lists are widely used by large and small employers, unions, state
employee health plans, Medicaid and other health plans.
"Unfortunately for Florida's employers, unions, government agencies,
and consumers, this legislation will only increase what they pay for
generic drugs," said PCMA President and CEO Mark Merritt. "This
increases independent drugstore profits at the expense of employers
and consumers."
A recent analysis from the Health and Human Services Office of
Inspector General (OIG) demonstrated "the significant value MAC
programs have in containing Medicaid drug costs." The OIG recommended
that states strengthen MAC programs, not weaken them.
The Florida legislature is also considering separate bills that
undermine proven tools used by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to
lower prescription drug costs. Restricting these tools could increase
prescription drug costs by $12 billion over 10 years for the state's
employers, seniors, unions, and consumers.
With the help of PBMs, Florida consumers, employers, unions, and the
state government will save $97.5 billion in prescription drug costs
over the next decade. PBMs accomplish this by:
-- Negotiating discounts from drugstores and drug manufacturers.
-- Offering home delivery of medicines.
-- Encouraging the use of generics and less expensive brands.
-- Using cutting-edge tools to improve medication adherence.
-- Improving quality and safety.
PCMA represents the nation's pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which
improve affordability and quality of care through the use of
electronic prescribing (e-prescribing), generic alternatives,
mail-service pharmacies, and other innovative tools for 216 million
Americans.
Follow PCMA on Twitter
SOURCE Pharmaceutical Care Management Association
-0- 04/03/2014
/CONTACT: Charles Coté, 202-207-3605; or Greg Lopes, 202-207-3614
CO: Pharmaceutical Care Management Association
ST: District of Columbia Florida
IN: HEA MTC REA PHA
SU: AVO LEG SCZ NPT
PRN
-- DC97788 --
0000 04/03/2014 15:20:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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