Local Officials Join in Fight Against High Drug Prices

February 5, 2021

High drug costs in the US result from a number of factors and face criticism from many different parties. Recently, local officials in one Pennsylvania county have put the blame on pharmacy benefit managers—a new source of criticism for the industry. A report details $1.4 million in excess costs for the county in 2019. A lack of comparative pricing and Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield withholding knowledge of drug rebates are partially to blame.

“In what is being described as an unusual move, a Pennsylvania county is openly blaming pharmacy benefit managers for high prices in the opaque pharmaceutical pricing system, a move that suggests more local officials may start scrutinizing these controversial middlemen.” Subscribe to STAT News to read the article.

(Source: STAT News, Ed Silverman, 2/1/21)

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