House lawmakers slam pharmacy middlemen over sky-high drug prices
Democratic and Republican lawmakers found common ground with one another during an oversight committee hearing Tuesday, blaming executives from three major pharmacy middlemen groups for the sky-high prescription drug prices in the United States.
WASHINGTON — Democratic and Republican lawmakers found common ground with one another at an oversight committee hearing Tuesday, blaming executives from three major pharmacy middlemen groups for the sky-high prescription drug prices in the U.S.
The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability heard testimony from the leaders of three pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs, one month after the Federal Trade Commission released a scathing report that accused the groups of racking up massive profits by steering patients and employers toward higher-priced drugs.
Prescription drug prices in the U.S. are a major concern for many people.
A report from KFF, a nonprofit group that researches health policy issues, found about one-third of people say they are unable to take the medication they need because of the high cost.
Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., said he has heard from constituents that they’ve had to skip, delay or go without their necessary drugs because of the price.
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