FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thurs., Jan. 12, 2023
CONTACT: Aly Coleman, aly@on3pr.com, 850.391.5040
Tallahassee, Fla. –Today, on National Pharmacists Day, and in response to Governor Ron DeSantis’ introduction of a reform package intended to lower prescription drug prices and increase transparency and accountability among pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the following statement was issued by Helen Sairany, Executive Vice President and CEO of the Florida Pharmacy Association and member of EMPOWER Patients, a coalition of independent and community pharmacists and pharmacies focused on increasing access to affordable medication by cutting out PBMs from the prescription drug supply chain.
“EMPOWER Patients commends Governor DeSantis for championing efforts to rein in powerful and predatory PBMs doing business in the Sunshine State. As the governor explained, PBMs are not only anti-competition, but they are anti-patient as well. These multi-billion-dollar companies are deciding which prescription drugs to cover based on the size of the rebates they will receive from manufacturers, ultimately raising patients’ out-of-pocket drug costs by almost 30 percent. And to make matters worse, they use pressure tactics to steer patients to their affiliated pharmacies, where the prescription drug rebates they will receive are larger, rather than focusing on the best health outcomes for patients.
“With the 2023 Legislative Session on the horizon, we look forward to working with Governor DeSantis, Florida Department of Health Secretary Joseph Ladapo, and other stakeholders to keep PBMs in check, empowering patients and putting their best interests – their health – first.”
For more information about EMPOWER Patients, please click here.
About EMPOWER Patients
The EMPOWER Patients coalition formed in 2020 to focus on supporting policies that empower patients to take back control of their health care, increase access to affordable medication, restore the patient/pharmacist relationship, and drastically cut the role of prescription drug middlemen in prescription drug decision making. EMPOWER Patients is comprised of the American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc., Aspire Health Pharmacy Services, Florida Independent Pharmacy Network, Florida Pharmacy Association, Pharmacy Provider Services Corporation, Walgreens, and hundreds of independent and communities pharmacies across Florida.
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