PCMA: New Drugstore Lobby Bill Would Increase Prescription Drug Costs
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The proposed government mandate would gut the use of Maximum Allowable Cost (MAC) lists, which are a key cost-control reimbursement strategy used to ensure consumers - and the federal government - don't overpay for generic drugs. MAC lists are the maximum amount a health plan will reimburse drugstores for generic drugs, based on prevailing market conditions. In contract negotiations, drugstores that agree to join a plan's network accept the drug plan's MAC lists (along with dispensing fees) as reimbursement for generics. MAC lists are widely used. Forty-five state
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The bill would also increase costs and risk patient safety by undermining the use of mail-service pharmacies for those with chronic conditions like high blood pressure and rheumatoid arthritis.
"Now is not the time for new government mandates that raise prescription drug costs and undermine competition," said PCMA President
The following research overwhelmingly shows MAC lists reduce drug costs:
A Health and
A HYPERLINK "https://www.pcmanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/pr-dated-11-17-15-mac-white-paper-april-2015.pdf" nwhite paper, by a
A HYPERLINK "https://www.pcmanet.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/visante-pcma-mac-legislation-study-2015-update.pdf" nVisante analysis of more than 800 drugs likely to be impacted by legislation restricting the use of MACs found that MAC legislation could increase costs by 31% to 56% for affected generic prescriptions.
PCMA is the national association representing America's pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs administer prescription drug plans for more than 266 million Americans who have health insurance from a variety of sponsors including: commercial health plans, self-insured employer plans, union plans,
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