Press Releases and Blog
Blog
With August behind us, lawmakers are pledging to explore policies that will deliver affordability to families. As voters continue to cite rising health costs as a top challenge, health care is once again moving to the forefront of the policy debate. PCMA recently released the Path to Patient Affordability, a roadmap for federal and state […]
By Amanda Frost, PhD Vice President, Research, PCMA The law of unintended consequences, when an action produces unexpected effects outside of its goal. The ripple effect, a single small action causing a chain of larger reactions. The butterfly effect, where small changes early on lead to big unpredictable effects down the road. What do all […]
A Q&A with Patent Expert Professor Charles Duan
The impact of Big Pharma’s patent abuse on prescription drug access and costs is easy to understand: when drugmakers game the patent system in order to extend their monopolies beyond what the law intends, they block lower-cost entrants from the market. As a result, competition can’t push prices down and patients pay more. But understanding […]
As voters weigh in on their priorities for the midterm elections, the headlines are clear: affordability is their top concern. That’s why President Trump, members of Congress in both parties, and candidates for office across the country are advancing a range of policies to help Americans who are suffering from high prices, including rising health […]
While the World Cup dominated headlines this summer, another competition has been consuming Washington and state capitals: PCMA’s What’s Your PBM IQ? quiz. As part of our value campaign, PBMs. Lowering Drug Costs. Protecting Patients., the trivia challenge puts America’s knowledge of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to the test. Recently, we highlighted the top 5 […]
Despite a surge of interest in health care transparency over recent years, federal and state policymakers have taken a hands-off approach to the prescription drug wholesaler market and their vertically aligned affiliates. There are very few licensure requirements and limited reporting obligations that would help lawmakers assess the market and ensure patients and independent pharmacies […]
The pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) market is a highly competitive sector in health care, with more than 70 full-service PBMs serving employers, unions, and government programs. In a complex prescription drug market, PBMs compete to provide pharmacy benefit services, including formulary development, pharmacy network management, clinical programs, and negotiations with drug companies that help lower […]
By Amanda Frost, PhD Vice President, Research, PCMA Last year, the U.S. spent $1.363 trillion on prescription drugs, and every year we spend more. We all want this money to be invested in healthier lives for Americans. But do we know if we’re getting our money’s worth? Policymakers have recently been asking this question and […]
Press Releases
Preliminary Injunction Recognizes that Illinois Law Is Preempted by ERISA and Imposes Significant Compliance Burdens
(SPRINGFIELD, IL) – The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) welcomed a federal district court’s decision Monday granting a preliminary injunction against key parts of Illinois’ so-called Prescription Drug Affordability Act (PDAA). The court’s decision temporarily prevents the state from enforcing new burdensome reporting mandates on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that serve self-insured employer and union-sponsored health […]
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – In coordination with the Trump Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, today the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) and its members announced a new commitment related to TrumpRx: “The following Pharmacy Benefit Managers, in conjunction with PCMA, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, commit to supporting the […]
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is considering H.R. 6610, the Pharmacists Fight Back [in Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans Act]. The legislation mandates minimum reimbursement rates for pharmacies participating in the Federal Employee Health Benefit plan (FEHB), adding significant cost to the program with no added benefit to enrollees. David Marin, President and CEO, […]
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) President and CEO, David Marin, issued the following statement on today’s markup in the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), which includes consideration of S. 2355, Patients Deserve Price Tags Act and S. 4189, the INSULIN Act of 2026. “Congress achieved a major victory this year by enshrining unprecedented PBM transparency into federal law. The priority now […]
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, The House Energy & Commerce Committee is considering H.R. 9393, the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act of 2026. With landmark pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform already enacted in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) earlier this year, H.R. 9393 includes many requirements already mandated under the CAA. David Marin, President and CEO […]
Christine Rex Appointed to Lead State Communications
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) today announced the addition of two senior public affairs leaders, naming MacKay Jimeson Vice President, Coalitions and appointing Christine Rex Senior Director, State Communications. The new hires further strengthen the association’s advocacy, coalition-building, and stakeholder engagement capabilities at both the state and federal levels. “Bringing this level […]
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, the House Ways and Means Committee is considering HR 9645, the Healthcare Price Certainty for All Americans Act. This bill includes several provisions that are duplicative of the sweeping pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform enacted earlier this year in the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) that make it more difficult for smaller PBMs […]
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – Today, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) released a new advertisement called “Possible,” the second video ad of PCMA’s ongoing campaign: “PBMs. Lowering Drug Costs. Protecting Patients.” The seven-figure, always-on campaign is designed to highlight the enormous value pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) provide to patients and the entire health care system. Explaining […]