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FTC And PBMs: Support For Investigation Building But Outcome May Ultimately Disappoint Critics

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Federal Trade Commission’s ‘pro-competitive’ perspective could support conclusion that pharmacy benefit managers serve useful role in lowering drug costs, health policy expert suggests. FTC will get an earful about PBM practices, but ‘those complaints could be an indication that competition is working.’

FTC and stacks of comments
FTC has received more than 23,000 comments in response to to its request for information on PBM business practices. • Source: Nielsen Hobbs; the Pink Sheet | Shutterstock images

Any recommendations emerging from the Federal Trade Commission’s exploration of the impact that pharmacy benefit managers have on a range of stakeholders may not ultimately target many of the drug access issues so often cited by critics of the sector, according to Manatt Health senior advisor Ian Spatz.

That’s because the FTC is likely to find that many of the functions carried out by PBMs effectively promote price...

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