Grassley to FTC: Investigate the role of PBMs on out-of-pocket costs
Following the Federal Trade Commission’s decision last month to not investigate pharma middlemen, or pharmacy benefit managers, Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley sent a letter last week to FTC chair Lina Khan, urging the commission to find common ground and closely examine how the PBM industry affects patients’ out-of-pocket expenses.
The call from Grassley comes as Khan urged her fellow commissioners to advance a “long overdue” inquiry into PBMs, as the commission has “a real moral imperative to act.” PBMs have long been critiqued as driving up patients’ expenses at the pharmacy counter, and for using tactics to drive people away from community pharmacies to their chain pharmacies.
Unlock this article instantly by becoming a free subscriber.
You’ll get access to free articles each month, plus you can customize what newsletters get delivered to your inbox each week, including breaking news.