Comer Announces First Hearing on Pharmacy Benefit Managers’ Role in Rising Health Care Costs
WASHINGTON—House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) today announced an upcoming hearing titled, “The Role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers in Prescription Drug Markets Part I: Self-Interest or Health Care?” At the hearing, members will examine Pharmacy Benefit Managers’ (PBMs) tactics at multiple levels of the payment and supply chains that are increasing costs for consumers and harming patient care.
“Pharmacy Benefit Managers’ anticompetitive tactics are driving up health care costs for Americans and harming patient care. Greater transparency in the PBM industry is vital to determine the impact that their tactics are having on patients, the pharmaceutical market, and health care programs administered by the federal government. The House Oversight and Accountability Committee is shining a light on this issue in the healthcare system and will continue to examine solutions to make prescription drugs more affordable for all Americans,” said Chairman Comer.
On March 1, 2023, Chairman Comer launched an investigation into PBMs’ role in rising health care costs. He requested senior officials at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Defense Health Agency (DHA) provide documents and communications to determine the extent PBMs’ tactics impact healthcare programs administered by the federal government. Additionally, Chairman Comer requested that the largest PBMs—CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, and OptumRx—provide documents, communications, and information related to their practices that are distorting the pharmaceutical market and limiting high quality care for patients.
WHAT: Hearing titled “The Role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers in Prescription Drug Markets Part I: Self-Interest or Health Care?”
DATE: Tuesday, May 23, 2023
TIME: 10:00AM ET
LOCATION: 2154 Rayburn House Office Building
WITNESSES:
- Dr. Kevin Duane, Owner, Panama Pharmacy
- Mr. Greg Baker, CEO, AffirmedRx
- Dr. Miriam Atkins, Oncologist, Augusta Oncology Associates
The hearing will be open to the public and press and will be livestreamed online at https://oversight.house.gov/.
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