What They Are Saying: PBMs Help Businesses, Families, And Patients Save On Rx Costs, Allow Employers To Offer Competitive Benefits

Voices from around the nation, including small business owners and concerned citizens, have sounded the alarm on proposals targeting pharmacy benefit companies in Congress, specifically how policies would lead to increased health care costs for consumers, patients, and families, and boosted profits for Big Pharma companies and other special interests.

As special interests continue to advocate for increased oversight of PBMs, that would undermine the work they do to secure savings for patients, families, and consumers and make it possible for health plan sponsors to offer competitive, affordable, and quality benefits, a wide variety of voices continue to underscore the importance for lawmakers to protect pharmacy benefits.

See what small business owners and people are saying about pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs):

Eric Hare, business owner, Alabama in 1819 News:

"In navigating the complex world of health care coverage, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are instrumental partners for employers, specifically in the realm of designing our employees' prescription drug benefits. PBMs provide health plan sponsors with much needed flexibility and a wide range of options for us to choose what benefits work for our needs as a company and for the employees we offer coverage to. Unfortunately, some lawmakers want to undermine PBMs and their ability to help employers secure savings and offer more affordable coverage to our employees.

"When I'm designing our company's benefits package, I need to be shown all the options I have for my prescription benefits so I can make an informed decision that will best fit the needs of my employees. From seeing the formulary from my PBM to choosing how my pharmacy benefit company is paid, I get to see the information I need to decide what works best for us."

Suzanne Klapp, small business owner and former Scottsdale Councilwoman, Arizona, in the Daily Independent:

"Dispelling misconceptions surrounding pharmacy benefit companies is crucial to understanding their value. These entities negotiate with pharmaceutical managers to lower drug prices, passing the savings to employers and individuals, delivering an average savings of $1,040 per person each year. Healthy competition stimulates innovation and expands consumer options. Conversely, neglecting to foster a competitive environment keeps prices high, risking the fiscal and physical well-being of hardworking taxpayers already grappling with the challenges of caring for themselves and their families."

Debra Gnemi, small business owner, Minnesota, in the Owatonna People's Press:

"For small businesses, ensuring our benefits are competitive can be make or break for finding top talent to support our operations. When we're looking for new people to hire, they are looking at affordability and accessibility of health care and prescription medications they need to keep themselves and their families healthy. Pharmacy benefit companies are an essential part of this process for businesses like ours, providing options and flexibility for my business to provide affordable health coverage…I hope this threat is as clear to our representatives in Congress as it is to me. Pharmacy benefit companies provide significant value to those who need it, especially for employers, and those voting on these policies need to consider the long-term impacts they will have on the people and employers of Minnesota. We need our elected leaders to protect our pharmacy benefits."

Mark Olson, small business owner, Minnesota, in the Sun Patriot:

"Requiring rebate pass-through for every PBM-plan sponsor relationship does nothing but allow the government to dictate how a plan sponsor is able to design their benefits. Many people already choose rebate pass-through, which is great, but we shouldn't let the government take away the flexibility and choice we need when it comes to our benefits. I strongly urge the Minnesota delegation to stand by employers like me to oppose misguided proposals that will raise prescription drug costs, particularly during a time when inflation is impacting all Americans."

Robert Hudson, concerned citizen, Mississippi, in The Commercial Dispatch:

"Some analysis of proposals being considered found that health care premiums would increase $26.6 billion annually in the commercial health insurance market if Congress were to ban market-based incentives for pharmacy benefit companies that allow them to share in the cost savings they secure - known as "delinking." In a post-delinking world, Big Pharma would actually see a huge profit increase of upward of $21 billion every year."

Mike Armour, former Mississippi state director, Appalachian Regional Commission, in the Clarion Ledger:

"Pharmacy benefit companies provide much-needed healthy competition in a market that tends to be dominated by out-of-control pharmaceutical giants. They also help to negotiate rebates with these massive drug companies on behalf of plan sponsors and patients. Contrary to common misconceptions being pushed by Big Pharma, rebates have no correlation to the drug prices we see, which are set only by pharmaceutical companies. In fact, drugs with the highest price hikes often lack rebates entirely. These savings are vital for reducing premiums or enhancing the benefits for employees covered by health plans."

Janet Crow, Howell County collector, Missouri, in the West Plains Daily Quill:

"I have seen firsthand the savings secured through contracting with a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM). For the many employers in Howell County using a PBM to secure benefits for employees, pharmacy benefit companies make it possible to design benefits that fit the unique needs of a business or organization. Undermining these companies' ability to do their job will only hurt employers, patients and families across the state. One policy being considered that "delinks" how PBMs are compensated for effectively securing savings will increase premiums in the commercial market by $26.6 billion."

James Cowell, campus ambassador, the Leadership Institute and Turning Point USA, Tennessee, in The Tennessee Star:

"Furthermore, health care economist and American Enterprise Institute (AEI) senior fellow Alex Brill found that in the Medicare Part D and commercial markets, these policies would result in a massive $32 billion in new profits for Big Pharma each year. In essence, the projected outcomes of 'delinking' policies paint a concerning picture of a health care system that prioritizes the interests of drug manufacturers over the well-being and affordability of patients and taxpayers."

Jim Ross, small business owner, Utah, in the Daily Herald:

"Many of these discussions singled out pharmacy benefit companies as the alleged driver behind rising drug prices. Buzzwords like "middlemen" and "delinking" were used to make the case for reforms, but as a business owner, it seems like none of us were asked if either of the proposals being considered in Congress will actually help save prescription drug costs for our employees. In fact, they will only pile on the already sky-high expenses our business is facing. We choose to work with pharmacy benefit companies to help lower the cost of prescription medications for our staff. "Choice" should be a keyword for legislators, as the options provided by pharmacy benefit companies help save roughly $800 per enrollee every year. Choice also allows employers like me to work with pharmacy benefit companies to craft and implement the best plan for my unique business operations."

John Danneker, retired business owner, Wisconsin, in the Pierce County Journal:

"The prescription drug supply chain has long been marred by Big Pharma's monopolies, hindering competition that helps drive prices down in a free market. Pharmacy benefit companies disrupt this trend, introducing competition that helps lower prescription drug costs. This healthy market dynamic ensures that the focus remains on providing accessible, quality health care rather than maximizing profits at the expense of patients and taxpayers."

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PCMA is the national association representing America's pharmacy benefit companies. Pharmacy benefit companies are working every day to secure savings, enable better health outcomes, and support access to quality prescription drug coverage for more than 275 million patients.

Learn more at www.pcmanet.org

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