ASHP Calls for FTC Investigation of PBM Practices

Today, ASHP urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the competitive impact of large pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) and a variety of abusive behaviors that undermine patient safety.

In a statement to the Commission, Tom Kraus, ASHP vice president of government relations, outlined several PBM practices that cause significant harm, including discriminatory reimbursement arrangements, underpaying safety-net providers in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, and sidestepping insurance regulations. ASHP’s comments also highlighted PBMs use of direct and indirect remuneration (DIR) fees that increase their profits at the expense of pharmacy providers and their patients.

 “ASHP applauds the FTC’s interest in evaluating the competitive impact of large PBMs and urges the Commission to investigate PBM practices,” said Kraus. “Large PBMs control over 85% of the market share across all health plans and engage in a variety of abusive practices that ultimately increase patients’ healthcare costs, decrease the quality of care, and threaten the financial viability of pharmacy providers.”

About ASHP

ASHP is the collective voice of pharmacists who serve as patient care providers in hospitals, health systems, ambulatory clinics, and other healthcare settings spanning the full spectrum of medication use. The organization’s more than 60,000 members include pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. For 80 years, ASHP has been at the forefront of efforts to improve medication use and enhance patient safety. For more information about the wide array of ASHP activities and the many ways in which pharmacists advance healthcare, visit ASHP’s website, ashp.org, or its consumer website, SafeMedication.com.