Drug Pricing and Independent Pharmacies

STAT+: Pharmacies sue GoodRx and PBMs over ‘illegal’ reimbursement fees

STAT

NOVEMBER 5, 2024

Three independent pharmacies have filed separate lawsuits accusing GoodRx, which markets a prescription drug discount card, of conspiring with several pharmacy benefit managers to fix reimbursement fees, the latest skirmish over the opaque pharmaceutical supply chain in the U.S.

Independent Pharmacies

Independent Pharmacies Drug Pricing

STAT+: FTC report finds PBMs profit at the expense of patients and independent pharmacies

STAT

JULY 9, 2024

Moreover, the FTC found the prescription drug market is “highly concentrated” because the largest PBMs are owned by insurers and, in turn, own specialty, mail order, or retail pharmacies. Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…

Independent Pharmacies

Independent Pharmacies Drug Pricing

STAT+: Wall Street wags say a bill to force insurers or PBMs to sell pharmacies has low odds

STAT

DECEMBER 11, 2024

The bipartisan bill , which would require divestiture within three years, is aimed at what the lawmakers call an “inherent conflict of interest” that has forced Americans to pay more for medicines and hastened the demise of independent pharmacies.

Independent Pharmacies

Independent Pharmacies Drug Pricing

STAT+: Express Scripts sues FTC over a ‘biased’ report about pharmacy benefit managers

STAT

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

Express Scripts, one of the largest pharmacy benefit managers in the U.S., filed a lawsuit on Tuesday demanding that a recent Federal Trade Commission report accusing industry middlemen of raising drug prices be vacated. ” FTC Chair Lina Khan was also accused of “anti-PBM bias.”

Independent Pharmacies

Independent Pharmacies Drug Pricing

DIR Fee Changes Coming in 2024: The Pros and Cons for Independent Pharmacies

Digital Pharmacist

APRIL 25, 2023

f you’re an independent pharmacy owner or pharmacist, you’re probably aware of the upcoming changes to DIR fees that will take effect in 2024. In this blog post, we will discuss the evolution of DIR fees leading up to the DIR fee changes coming in 2024, and the pros and cons independent pharmacies owners should prepare for.

Independent Pharmacies

Independent Pharmacies Drug Utilization Review Drug Pricing Pharmacy Management

STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about an Express Scripts lawsuit against FTC, AMR deaths, and more

STAT

SEPTEMBER 17, 2024

… Express Scripts, which is one of the largest pharmacy benefit managers in the U.S., filed a lawsuit demanding that a recent Federal Trade Commission report accusing the industry middlemen of raising drug prices should be vacated , STAT tells us. ” FTC Chair Lina Khan was also accused of “anti-PBM bias.”

Independent Pharmacies

Independent Pharmacies Drug Pricing

Drug Channels News Roundup, October 2021: PBMs’ Oncology Exclusions, Biosimilar Boom, BCBS vs. Hospitals, U.S. vs. the World, and CRISPR Comedy

Drug Channels

OCTOBER 27, 2021

Recent posts have covered: Walgreens’ new direction; controversary over independent pharmacy counting; insurer consolidation; retail pharmacy M&A; drug pricing policy; Prime Therapeutics; 340B contract pharmacy litigation; pharmaceutical antitrust; oncology care model; and Peter Bach’s nuptials.

Independent Pharmacy Cheers FTC Action Against PBMs

Pharmacy Times

SEPTEMBER 23, 2024

Rebates increase drug prices, says NCPA

Independent Pharmacies

Independent Pharmacies Drug Pricing

FTC launches probe into pharmacy benefit management sector

pharmaphorum

JUNE 8, 2022

Longstanding claims that one of the reasons for high drug prices in the US is the actions of pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies – the middlemen in the supply chain – are being formally investigated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). — FTC (@FTC) June 7, 2022. ” Lawmakers are also getting involved. .”

Drug Pricing

Drug Pricing Independent Pharmacies

Navigating CVS’s New Pricing Models: What to Know About CVS CostVantage and CVS Caremark TrueCost

Digital Pharmacist

JANUARY 4, 2024

CVS Health recently announced two new pricing models launching in 2025—CVS CostVantage (Focused on CVS as the Provider) and CVS Caremark TrueCost (Focused on CVS as the Payer)—which are intended to “drive aligned incentives and deliver a more transparent and sustainable reimbursement model” according to CVS Health’s press release. Fein, Ph.D.,

Drug Pricing

Drug Pricing Independent Pharmacies Prescription Management Pharmacy Management

NHC Comments on Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program: Draft Guidance, Implementation of Sections 1191 – 1198 of the Social Security Act for Initial Price Applicability Year 2027 and Manufacturer Effectuation of the Maximum Fair Price (MFP) in 2026 and 2027

Putting Patients First Blog

JULY 2, 2024

General Comments The NHC appreciates CMS’ commitment to actively engaging with stakeholders, including patients, consumer advocates, and health experts, in implementing the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program (DPNP). Key Medicare tools to safeguard against pharmacy fraud and inappropriate billing do not apply to Part D.

Drug Pricing

Drug Pricing Insurance Coverage and Processing Labelling HIPAA

Drug Channels News Roundup, February 2021: Accumulator Problems, Humana + ESI, White Bagging Battles, Buy-and-Bill Economics, and Pharmacy Hero Dave Marley

Drug Channels

FEBRUARY 23, 2021

This paper will help you understand why hospitals fight any reforms to the 340B Drug Pricing Program—and lobby against white bagging. Check out the eye-popping figures shown in the Drug Channels January 2021 news roundup. Medicure Enters the US Online Pharmacy World with Acquisition of Marley Drug , PR Newswire.

Specialty Pharmacies

Specialty Pharmacies Hospitals Independent Pharmacies Online Pharmacies

The Lilly Digest

Ramblings of a pharmacist

FEBRUARY 16, 2022

Each choice has bearing on the final result that Drug Channels calls out - “IQVIA data show that for 2020, the GDR for unbranded generics in the overall market was 88.5%. The NCPA Digest reports that the GDR for independent pharmacies was only 86% for 2020.” In other words, the $55.96 prescription transaction. .”

Independent Pharmacies

Independent Pharmacies Compounding Specialty Pharmacies Prescription Filling

STAT+: Key House Republican escalates rhetoric against PBMs

STAT

JUNE 13, 2023

Others want to block so-called spread pricing, in which PBMs charge insurance plans far more for a drug than PBMs pay pharmacies to dispense. Others still want to protect independent pharmacies, which say PBMs are running them out of business with unfair contracts.

Independent Pharmacies

Independent Pharmacies Drug Pricing

Antitrust – the independent pharmacist’s role in the fight for open markets, transparency, and strong small businesses

Ramblings of a pharmacist

FEBRUARY 20, 2022

At the same time, we see our neighbors complain about rising drug prices, and the rising cost of health insurance: Restaurateurs complain a lot about GrubHub and their seller fees, their menu stealing, and their ghost kitchens. We complain about DIR fees. About financial middlemen who add no value but extract plenty.

Health and Personal Care Stores

Health and Personal Care Stores Independent Pharmacies Drug Pricing Packaging

STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Medicare negotiations, U.K. drug rebates rising, and more

STAT

MARCH 17, 2025

government said it plans to aim for “greater transparency” in Medicare drug price negotiations under Trump, following criticism from the pharmaceutical industry for the Biden-era law. The negotiations were established as part of the Inflation Reduction Act in 2022. During the second cycle of negotiations, the U.S.

Hospitals

Hospitals Independent Pharmacies Drug Pricing

January 2025 Newsletter

Safe Biologics

MARCH 10, 2025

This expansion continues a flawed policy that threatens innovation and jeopardizes patient access to critical treatments, including drugs vital for cancer treatment and popular new weight loss medications that have transformed the management of obesity and related conditions. What Will 2025 Mean for Medicare Drug Price Setting Under the IRA?

Pharmacist Digest

STAT+: Pharmacies sue GoodRx and PBMs over ‘illegal’ reimbursement fees

STAT+: FTC report finds PBMs profit at the expense of patients and independent pharmacies

Trending Sources

STAT+: Wall Street wags say a bill to force insurers or PBMs to sell pharmacies has low odds

STAT+: Express Scripts sues FTC over a ‘biased’ report about pharmacy benefit managers

DIR Fee Changes Coming in 2024: The Pros and Cons for Independent Pharmacies

STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about an Express Scripts lawsuit against FTC, AMR deaths, and more

Drug Channels News Roundup, October 2021: PBMs’ Oncology Exclusions, Biosimilar Boom, BCBS vs. Hospitals, U.S. vs. the World, and CRISPR Comedy

Independent Pharmacy Cheers FTC Action Against PBMs

FTC launches probe into pharmacy benefit management sector

Navigating CVS’s New Pricing Models: What to Know About CVS CostVantage and CVS Caremark TrueCost

NHC Comments on Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program: Draft Guidance, Implementation of Sections 1191 – 1198 of the Social Security Act for Initial Price Applicability Year 2027 and Manufacturer Effectuation of the Maximum Fair Price (MFP) in 2026 and 2027

Drug Channels News Roundup, February 2021: Accumulator Problems, Humana + ESI, White Bagging Battles, Buy-and-Bill Economics, and Pharmacy Hero Dave Marley

The Lilly Digest

STAT+: Key House Republican escalates rhetoric against PBMs

Antitrust – the independent pharmacist’s role in the fight for open markets, transparency, and strong small businesses

STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about Medicare negotiations, U.K. drug rebates rising, and more

January 2025 Newsletter

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