PCMA Letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Reid
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009PCMA Letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Reid on the Senate Substitute Amendment to HR 3590, “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”
PCMA Letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Reid on the Senate Substitute Amendment to HR 3590, “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.”
(Washington, DC)- The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) announced the appointment of Jerry Steffl as the association’s new Vice President of Federal Affairs. 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.
Mr. Steffl brings a diverse background in health care policy to PCMA having worked in senior positions at WellPoint, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, and Prime Therapeutics.
“We’re excited to bring in a top-notch pro like Jerry to PCMA,” said PCMA President and CEO Mark Merritt. “Jerry’s unique experience and vast knowledge of PBM issues will enable him to hit the ground running during this critical time in health reform.”
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(Washington, DC)- The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) issued the following statement regarding the introduction of the “Patient Health & Real Medication Access Cost Savings Act of 2009,” by Representative G.K. Butterfield (D – NC):
“At a time when all of Washington wants to reduce the cost of health care, the Butterfield legislation would destroy proven cost-containment tools that unions, large employers, and Medicare rely upon and drive premiums higher for working families, seniors, and the disabled.
“The Butterfield legislation would:
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It’s Time to Support President Obama’s Biogenerics Proposal
(Washington, DC)- The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) issued the following statement regarding news reports that brand-name drug makers have rapidly increased prescription drug prices in anticipation of enactment of health care reform legislation:
“Today’s New York Times’ article exposes the short-comings of the ‘pharma deal’ and how it gives with one hand while taking with the other. Rather than relying on ‘shell games’ to lower prescription drug costs, policymakers should return this debate to the need for more competition in the form of real biogenerics reform.
“Increased choice and competition generated by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) has been pivotal in driving prescription-drug trend to historic lows, while expanding consumers’ access to drug and pharmacy choices. Since 1999, the projected rate of growth in prescription drug spending has declined by an estimated 78 percent, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). A central ingredient to this historic reduction in trend has been the expanded use and availability of generic drugs.
“Based on this experience, meaningful legislation creating a workable biogeneric pathway is essential to reining in the skyrocketing cost of biotech medicines. President Obama has put forward a sensible biogenerics proposal that would save consumers, employers, public programs, and taxpayers hundreds of billions of dollars in drug costs by subjecting biologic drugs to the same kind of generic competition that every other drug faces. Unfortunately, Congress recently moved in the opposite direction by advancing legislation that doubles the number of years that drug makers would enjoy unfettered, monopoly pricing for biologics.
“Americans deserve better. This anti-competitive approach does nothing to lower costs and prevents new drug choices benefiting consumers and payers from coming to market.”
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