The hill spokeJC Scott, president and CEO of the industry lobbying group Pharmaceutical Care Management Association;He was head of the House hearing on PBM practices Wednesday.
The interviews have been compiled for clarity and length.
Oka: Starting narrowly, what do you expect to hear from lawmakers on Wednesday?
Scott: This is the 18th Congress hearing that focused solely on PBMs over the past two years. So, considering all of the prescription drug space, the fact that PBM focuses on this time and energy and not on the basis like the price of a pharmaceutical company is pretty surprising to me. …I think all of this is connected. Additional laws here are on the road.
Are you looking for a new law or do you hope Congress didn't revive it? [December] Continuous solution?
At one point they realize that they were eventually reduced when they tried out a tee-painted health extender package late last year.
Which of the bill's PBM provisions is the most harmful?
What I say is what we are most concerned about… this provision comes in the 11th hour, when all contracts are required to pass a 100% rebate in the commercial market. . So what it says is that there is only one way to sign a deal. There is only one payment method for PBM services. There is no differentiation or diversity in the PBM market. In principle, we are deeply concerned about robbing employers, unions, plans and other private market clients of their choice. .
Does the PBM industry have allies in Congress?
Those who best understand the value that PBM offers are those who work in the private sector and have directly contracted with PBM on behalf of their employer, or work in the HR benefit space, or otherwise have it. You can see that he is a person. Real-life experience to understand why employers choose to sign up with PBM and precisely what the value is offered.
Where does PBMS' biggest threat come from?
I think the biggest risk comes from the continued lack of frustration, a lack of understanding of how our companies work and the value they offer. So they are the only actors in the market that focus on cost reduction until they do a better job of supporting policymakers across the spectrum to understand the important role PBMS plays.
It is a misconception that is stimulated by misinforming the discussions by drug lobbies and other stakeholders. The reality is that rebates are merely discounts on negotiations achieved through the economics of group purchases… Generally speaking, I still have a root on what the rebates are and how it flows. I think there is a point of view of incorrect information.
Are you worried that drug company executives were in the White House last week and that they're having dinner with Trump?
I'm not surprised that they are seeking engagement for policy makers. That's certainly the job of the Pharma Lobby. Just as it is our job to find opportunities to share our perspectives, it is to find opportunities to share their perspectives. When we are meeting with media and media policy makers, we usually don't promote or promote.
Are you worried that this White House will become more pro-fa-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f-f
I think President, I'm encouraged to hear the new HHS voice. [Health and Human Services] Secretary [Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]and others focus on things like the pricing gaps that we see between what we charge here in the US consumers and what we charge in other countries.
“We're going to knock out the intermediary who called you a 'dirty intermediary',” Trump said. And what kind of follow-up have you seen?
I think these comments show that we need to continue doing a better job explaining our role and the value our companies offer… to me It is probably too early to say what they want to do in the field of prescription drug pricing, to some extent, I don't know.
