Yesterday, NCPA Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Anne Cassity joined a diverse group of advocates in a Capitol Hill briefing pushing for swift passage of PBM reforms this Congress. Panelists included Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost; Dr. Madelaine A. Feldman, Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations; James Gelfand, ERISA Industry Committee; Joe Shields, TransparencyRx; Burton Eller, National Grange; Chris Krese, National Association of Chain Drug Stores; and Erin Callahan, Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition.
Cassity described NCPA's legislative priorities as a "common-sense solution that helps pharmacies and saves $5 billion for taxpayers—It's not a silver bullet, it's not going to fix everything, but it's a great first step." Attorney General Yost said, "I fully support the move to try to get this fixed through legislation. We've got to cut that Gordian knot." Other panelists echoed the sentiment that this is just the start and that reforms to other PBM practices are coming.
In addition, House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) and Reps. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) and Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.) addressed the group of congressional staff on the importance of reform.
"This all seems hopeless but there's light at the end of the tunnel—PBM reform is coming. I can say with certainty that my committee's work is not done," Comer said.
