Middlemen's Secret Drug Rebates Targeted by Wyden's Bill
- Democratic senator aims at ‘veil of secrecy’ on drug prices
- Drug benefit manager lobby says bill would add to costs
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Senator Ron Wyden proposed legislation that would force drug middlemen to disclose secret discounts they receive from manufacturers, a sign of growing scrutiny of the role played by pharmacy benefit managers in high prices.
The bill would require pharmacy benefit managers such as Express Scripts Holding Co. and CVS Health Corp. to reveal the aggregate rebates that they receive from drug companies for Medicare plans and post the amounts on a government website, according to a statement from the Oregon Democrat’s office. While it may not pass in a Republican Congress, the proposal calls further attention to PBMs while drug prices are in the crosshairs of Washington lawmakers and President Donald Trump.