PBM Consolidation Should Be A Focus OF FTC Merger Guidelines Review, AAM Urges

As they revise and interpret merger guidelines, the Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice should pay particular attention to the anticompetitive impact of consolidation in the pharmacy benefit manager market, the generic trade group suggests.

Insurer/PBM/Pharmacy Combinations Leading To Anti-Competitive Practices, Group Argues • Source: Alamy

Consolidation in the pharmacy benefit management industry has led to rebating practices that can hamper access to generic drugs and increase out-of-pocket costs for patients, the Association for Accessible Medicines told the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice in 21 March comments

PBM consolidation threatens competition from lower cost generic drugs in “numerous ways,” AAM said. Noting that PBM’s have “dramatically” expanded...

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