WASHINGTON - (Business Wire) The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) issued the following statement regarding the introduction of the “Patient Health & Real Medication Access Cost Savings Act of 2009,” by Representative G.K. Butterfield (D – NC): “At a time when all of Washington wants to reduce the cost of health care, the Butterfield legislation would destroy proven cost-containment tools that unions, large employers, and Medicare rely upon and drive premiums higher for working families, seniors, and the disabled.
“The Butterfield legislation would:
- Prohibit unions and employers from creating benefit designs that encourage generic utilization and other cost saving tools.
- Force patients to pay a 20 percent co-insurance for both brand and generic drugs, eliminating the numerous free or reduced-cost drug programs available to those suffering from chronic conditions.
- Impose unrealistic federal price controls.
- Mandate that unions and employers increase payments to drug stores.
- Add new barriers to prevent consumers from using more convenient options like home delivery.”
PCMA represents the nation’s pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which improve affordability and quality of care through the use of electronic prescribing (e-prescribing), generic alternatives, mail-service pharmacies, and other innovative tools for 200-plus million Americans.
Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA)
Charles Coté, 202-207-3605
