Patients Rising Now sent a letter of support for Representatives Buddy Carter’s (R-GA-01) and Lisa Blunt Rochester’s (D-DE-AL) legislation: The Protecting Patients Against PBM Abuses Act. The problem is PBMs is so widespread that it is not only confined to patients with private insurance plans, it also extends into the Medicare Part D and Medicaid programs. Their practices lead to patients rationing or foregoing treatment and local, independent pharmacists closing their door permanently, and action to prevent this is long overdue. This legislation corrects these issues by mandating a flat rate fee for services rendered by PBMs, explicitly prohibiting spread pricing, and imposing strict reporting requirements with penalties for noncompliance. The Protecting Patients Against PBM Abuses Act would make a real difference in the lives of Medicare patients and Patients Rising Now strongly supports this bill. Patients Rising Now CEO Terry Wilcox released the following statement of support:

 

“Representatives Carter and Blunt Rochester introduced a bill that would be a huge step in the right direction to right-size the healthcare system – with the end user in mind. Patients appreciate the Protecting Patients Against PBM Abuses Act, as it will eliminate toxic incentives that keep drug costs high for seniors and chronically ill patients, and it explicitly bans spread pricing, which lines the pockets of PBMs with money from consumers, taxpayers, and community pharmacists. We hope to see further improvements on the Hill this year to ensure patients receive the rebates we are promised and are able to access treatments their doctors prescribe.”