NCPA denounces FTC decision on PBMs

WASHINGTON – The National Community Pharmacists Association criticized the Federal Trade Commission after it deadlocked on a vote to investigate pharmacy benefit managers. 

“Two members of the FTC just let the worst actors in the market off the hook. After hearing hours of testimony by community pharmacists and patients, all of whom painted the same shocking picture about PBM abuse, and not a single witness there to defend the PBM industry, it is inexplicable that two members of the commission could vote against the study,” stated NCPA. 

The association and other pharmacy stakeholders on Feb. 17 testified at an FTC hearing on whether the agency should order PBMs to provide information about their anti-competitive practices. NCPA has called on the FTC for an investigation multiple times in the past year. PBM practices result in restricted access to patients; clawbacks in the form of DIR and GER fees; patient steering away from community pharmacies; below-cost reimbursements; and punitive audit practices, says NCPA. 

In September 2021, NCPA partnered with five other organizations to form the Coalition for PBM Reform to bring transparency to a part of the health care system that they say is dominated by a few giant corporate middlemen.