OPINION — Some lawmakers are still promoting the “Most Favored Nation” drug pricing idea as if copying the systems of Europe will somehow solve the problems facing families here in Arizona.
That approach doesn’t address the chaos happening inside our own drug supply chain, and frankly, it distracts from the reform we actually need: holding pharmacy benefit managers — PBMs — accountable.
PBMs have inserted themselves between doctors and patients, and Arizonans are paying the price. They dictate formularies, block medications and negotiate secret rebates that push out-of-pocket costs are higher than ever.
People think the drug companies set every price, but PBMs are the ones determining what patients actually pay at the counter. That’s why Congress must finish PBM reform before the end of the year.
The PBM Reform Act finally forces transparency, ends the financial incentives PBMs profit from, and gives patients a fair chance at the medications their doctors prescribe.
Arizonans don’t need more experiments or foreign price copying schemes. They need clarity, fairness and a system that works here at home. Congress should stop wasting time debating MFN and focus on passing the one bill that could bring immediate relief to families across our state.
Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here