Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Bill Would Target Pharmacy Benefit Managers' Role In High Drug Prices
Bloomberg: Middlemen's Secret Drug Rebates Targeted By Wyden's Bill
Senator Ron Wyden proposed legislation that would force drug middlemen to disclose secret discounts they receive from manufacturers, a sign of growing scrutiny of the role played by pharmacy benefit managers in high prices. The bill would require pharmacy benefit managers such as Express Scripts Holding Co. and CVS Health Corp. to reveal the aggregate rebates that they receive from drug companies for Medicare plans and post the amounts on a government website, according to a statement from the Oregon Democrat’s office. While it may not pass in a Republican Congress, the proposal calls further attention to PBMs while drug prices are in the crosshairs of Washington lawmakers and President Donald Trump. (Langreth, 3/15)
Morning Consult: Wyden Introduces Bill To Increase Transparency Of PBMs
The Senate Finance Committee’s top Democrat is leading a push to “lift the veil of secrecy” surrounding pharmacy benefit managers, the intermediaries in drug price negotiations between manufacturers, pharmacies and insurers. The legislation, which Sen. Ron Wyden rolled out on Wednesday, would force pharmacy benefit managers to disclose the total amount in rebates and discounts they receive from manufacturers to get their drugs listed on formularies. The legislation aims to reveal how much in savings negotiated by PBMs on behalf of insurers actually go to health plans. (Reid, 3/15)
Los Angeles Times: Claiming Momentum Is On Their Side, California Lawmakers Try Again To Require More Transparency On Drug Prices
California Democrats, labor unions, health insurers and consumer advocacy groups — along with newly joined backer Tom Steyer, the billionaire activist — are restarting their effort to shed more light on prescription drug prices after a similar measure sputtered last year. State Sen. Ed Hernandez (D-West Covina) unveiled his new bill at a Capitol news conference Wednesday. (Mason, 3/15)
In case you missed it: Check out our weekly feature, Prescription Drug Watch, which includes coverage and perspectives about high drug prices.
In other pharmaceutical news —
Stat: What You Need To Know About Amgen’s ‘Game-Changing’ Cholesterol Trial
Come Friday morning, Amgen will reveal whether its costly, much-discussed new cholesterol drug will live up to blockbuster expectations — or become a cautionary tale in biopharma lore. At the American Cardiology Conference in Washington, D.C., Amgen will present results from a 27,000-patient study determining whether its drug can reduce patients’ risk of heart attack and stroke, with sweeping ramifications for payers, patients, investors, and pharma. (Garde, 3/15)
NPR: Can A Cancer Drug Stop Dementia And Parkinson's?
Scientists are hoping that a single drug can treat two devastating brain diseases: Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. The drug is nilotinib, which is approved to treat a form of leukemia. (Hamilton, 3/15)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Thousands Prescribed Too Much Medicine
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel examined Medicaid billing records for 2014 to provide one measure of the amount of psychiatric medications patients are prescribed. The analysis found about 7,000 Wisconsin patients received prescriptions for at least two antipsychotic drugs at the same time, despite treatment guidelines that recommend against more than one. Ten patients had prescriptions for five antipsychotics at a time, and three patients had prescriptions for six. (Kissinger, 3/15)
