PCMA CHALLENGES ILLINOIS LAW AS UNLAWFUL INTRUSION ON EMPLOYER HEALTH PLANS

The following information was released by the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association:

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) filed a complaint for declaratory and injunctive relief in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois to stop the so-called "Prescription Drug Affordability Act" from limiting the use of cost-saving tools and significantly disrupting employer-sponsored health insurance.

Reacting to the lawsuit, David Marin, President and CEO of PCMA, made the following statement:

"Prescription drug prices are far too high for too many Illinoisans. Yet this bill threatens to make them even higher. Our lawsuit aims to protect the self-insured businesses and labor unions who provide health benefits for Illinois workers. Unless challenged, Illinois' pharmacy network restrictions and stringent reporting requirements will lead to higher costs and burdens for these employers while raising cost-sharing and premiums for patients.

"There are many ways to lower prescription drug prices and deliver affordability to patients and employers. But prohibiting the use of tools proven to lower costs and deliver cost-efficient, high-quality pharmaceutical care to patients and imposing onerous reporting burdens is not one of them. The Court has an opportunity to uphold the ability of self-insured employers to design benefits that meet the needs of their workforce without unnecessary state interference."