DLNews Health:

California's Attorney General, Rob Bonta, has taken a significant step by joining forces with a bipartisan group of 39 attorneys general from across the United States to urge Congress to take decisive action against Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs). These PBMs are criticized for engaging in practices that unfairly inflate the prices of prescription medications, negatively impacting millions of Americans who struggle to afford vital drugs.

PBMs are intermediaries between pharmacies, drug manufacturers, insurers, and patients. They play a critical role in the drug supply chain, affecting the availability and pricing of medications. However, their influence is now being scrutinized.

Bonta and colleagues urge Congress to bring transparency and accountability to PBMs. Millions can't afford life-saving drugs due to soaring prices. It's time to end manipulative pricing strategies that benefit PBMs at the expense of consumers.

Attorneys general have asked for reform from Congressional leaders, including Mike Johnson, Chuck Schumer, Hakeem Jeffries, and Mitch McConnell. They cited three federal laws to address the issue: the DRUG Act, the Protecting Patients Against PBM Abuses Act, and the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act. These bills will reduce healthcare costs and guarantee fair access to medication.

Rob Bonta consistently supports regulating PBMs and enhancing healthcare oversight. He fights for consumers through legal action and regulatory measures across states. In Jan. 2023, Bonta led a lawsuit against insulin manufacturers and PBMs for increasing insulin prices.

The coalition supporting this call to Congress includes attorneys general from a wide range of states, showcasing the broad concern over PBM practices. The participating states are Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virgin Islands, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. This diverse group's united stance underscores the nationwide urgency for reform, aiming to make healthcare more affordable and equitable for all Americans.