President’s Budget Includes Provision to Establish Regulatory Pathway to Approve Generic Biologics

(Washington, DC)-Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) President and CEO Mark Merritt released the following statement today on the provision in the President’s budget that would create a regulatory pathway to approve generic versions of biologic products. 

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 200-plus million Americans.

“The key to health reform is to improve access to quality care while reducing waste and unnecessary spending. 

“For over a quarter century, generic medicines have increased access and affordability for consumers, employers, labor unions, government agencies, and others.  However, expensive biologics have not faced generic competition, straining payers’ ability to provide affordable drug benefits for these necessary and often life-changing products.

“PCMA strongly supports the provision in the President’s budget that would create a regulatory pathway to approve generic biologics.  This will save billions of dollars for both the public and private sector by introducing competition and will help finance broader health reforms.  It also protects incentives to produce new biologics.”

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(Washington, DC)-The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) released the following statement today on several of the health care provisions contained in the final economic stimulus bill:

“This legislation is an important step forward to modernize and improve quality and safety in the health care system. 

“Our industry is committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure broad adoption of health information technology (HIT) so that patients and physicians have access to full and complete electronic medical records that include basic safety and savings tools like e-prescribing.  We are encouraged that the legislation specifically includes e-prescribing as an integral component of a fully-functional HIT system.

“In addition to the HIT provisions in the economic stimulus bill, PCMA supports the inclusion of comparative effectiveness research, which will improve clinical decision-making, enhance quality of care, and discourage wasteful spending.

“Moving forward, PCMA believes HIT systems should be interoperable and that privacy regulations should be constructed as to avoid inefficiencies, low provider adoption, and less patient access to life-saving technologies.”

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PCMA is the national association representing America’s pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which administer prescription drug plans for more than 210 million Americans with health coverage provided through Fortune 500 employers, health insurance plans, labor unions, and Medicare Part D.

(Washington, DC)-Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) President and CEO Mark Merritt issued the following statement supporting comparative effectiveness research being included in both the House and Senate economic stimulus bills:

“Comparative effectiveness research will improve clinical decision-making, enhance quality and discourage wasteful spending.

“Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have long been at the forefront of efforts to bring more measurement, accountability, and real-time information to the health care system.  Along with pharmacy & therapeutics (P&T) committees, other proven PBM utilization tools-including multi-tier formularies and step therapy-ensure patients have access to cost-effective and clinically proven prescription drugs.”

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PCMA is the national association representing America’s pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which administer prescription drug plans for more than 210 million Americans with health coverage provided through Fortune 500 employers, health insurance plans, labor unions, and Medicare Part D.

(Washington, DC)-The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) today announced the addition of Kristin Bass as Senior Vice President of Policy.  In this role, Ms. Bass will lead the association’s strategic development of the industry’s legislative policies.

PCMA is the national association representing America’s pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which administer prescription drug plans for more than 210 million Americans with health coverage provided through Fortune 500 employers, health insurance plans, labor unions, and Medicare Part D.

“With her broad experience and unique understanding of the health care terrain, Kristin is perfectly suited to spearhead this position,” said PCMA President and CEO Mark Merritt.  “We’re thrilled to have her help lead PCMA’s efforts in providing policymakers with health care solutions that lower costs and increase access to prescription drugs.”

Ms. Bass brings a wealth of health care experience and knowledge having served in senior leadership positions in both the public and private sector.  Prior to joining PCMA, Ms. Bass was the health care advisor for Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) on the Senate Finance Committee.  Ms. Bass has also served in senior positions in various sectors of the health care industry. 

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