Transparency-Rx applauds the Federal Trade Commission today for bringing federal anti-trust action against the three largest prescription drug benefit managers (PBMs)—Caremark Rx, Express Scripts (ESI), and OptumRx—and their affiliated group purchasing organizations (GPOs).
Big PBMs’ anti-competitive practices, price gouging, the offshoring and manipulation of patient prescription rebates has placed employers, main street job-creators, patients, and communities at risk for too long. The inclusion by the FTC of mega PBMs’ so-called group purchasing organizations (GPOs) is notable as increasingly PBMs and vertically integrated health carriers have secured record profits at the expense of patients, through opaque GPO fees, and risky offshore arrangements, undercutting affordable medicines and true transparency.
Transparency-Rx and our member companies are actively working to address a broken, misaligned healthcare system —through open markets, choice and competition, and clear and reliable business, policy, and patient approaches.
We will work vigilantly to help advance this critical FTC action—educating and empowering elected leaders, the Courts, regulators, and policymakers so all American can truly enjoy affordable access to prescription drug benefits and life-changing medications.