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Opinion: Will PBM reform save pharmacies from closing?

STAT

In May 2024 , nearly 90% of pharmacies were closed for a day as thousands of pharmacists protested over “over drug shortages, pharmacy closures and fears medications could be sold online, as well as higher pay.”

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Opinion: How the drug price negotiation program could affect Medicare Part D beneficiaries

STAT

The negotiation, informed by confidential data from manufacturers and analysis by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, will result in a maximum fair price for each drug, which will be announced Sept. 1, 2024, and will take effect Jan. billion in the first year and more than $98 billion by 2031.

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Opinion: Some ‘inconvenient’ truths about pharmacy benefit managers

STAT

A few recent examples make the point: A New York Times story in June 2024 bore the headline, “Pharmacy benefit managers are driving up drug costs for millions of people, employers and the government.” That view is wrong. Read the rest…

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STAT+: Pharma execs donated more to Democrats in campaign’s final stretch

STAT

WASHINGTON — Most executives at pharmaceutical companies haven’t directly donated to political candidates over the final stretch of the 2024 campaign. 30, five gave to Democratic candidates, even though Democratic lawmakers passed the most aggressive drug pricing reform in decades in 2022. 

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Opinion: Reduce drug spending by drastically simplifying monopolies on drugs

STAT

In 2024, total U.S. spending on prescription drugs was almost $800 billion. Although low-cost generic drugs filled 91% of all prescriptions, the 9% of prescriptions filled with a branded medicine accounted for 84% of drug spending.

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STAT+: 3 health policies states are taking on in 2024

STAT

STAT’s taking a look at some of the recent health policy trends that states will start to implement in 2024. For most states, the new year means a new legislative session.

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STAT+: Blue Shield of California overhauls drug pricing operation — by adding more vendors

STAT

Blue Shield of California, a health insurance company that covers almost 5 million people, is restructuring how it will pay for prescription drugs by dividing the work up among five different vendors — two of which include Amazon and Mark Cuban’s pharmacy company.