Impact of pharmacy benefit managers on cancer health care

A report from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shows how pharmacy benefit managers in the USA are overcharging patients for cancer medicines and shifting dispensing of cancer drugs to their own affiliated pharmacies for profit, ultimately restricting patients' access to quality cancer trea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The lancet oncology 2024-08, Vol.25 (8), p.e339-e339
Main Author: Venkatesan, Priya
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Cancer therapies
Costs
Drug delivery
Drug stores
Oncology
Patients
Pharmacists
Pharmacy benefit management
Prescription drugs
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Summary:A report from the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) shows how pharmacy benefit managers in the USA are overcharging patients for cancer medicines and shifting dispensing of cancer drugs to their own affiliated pharmacies for profit, ultimately restricting patients' access to quality cancer treatment and jeopardising their lives. In a press release, Lina M Khan (FTC, Washington, DC, USA) stated, “The interim report lays out how dominant pharmacy benefit managers can hike the cost of drugs—including overcharging patients for cancer drugs, and squeeze independent pharmacies that many Americans, especially those in rural communities, depend on for essential care.” Sheetal Kircher (Robert H Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA) added, “The rising costs of oncology drugs necessitate reform and pharmacy benefit managers were intended to negotiate lower prices, but their vertical consolidation, especially with ownership of mail-order and specialty pharmacies, may harm patients with cancer and practices.
ISSN:1470-2045
1474-5488
1474-5488
DOI:10.1016/S1470-2045(24)00400-5