focus

WASHINGTON — A key Senate health care panel has developed a plan to tackle reforms to middlemen in the pharmacy drug payment system, according to bill text obtained by STAT.

The draft legislation, authored by Senate Finance Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and ranking member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), includes several measures to regulate how pharmacy benefit managers are paid by health plans to negotiate with drugmakers.

advertisement

The most significant measure is a bill from Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) that would prohibit PBMs from getting any income outside of service fees, and prohibits those service fees from being related to drugs’ list prices.

Unlock this article by subscribing to STAT+ and enjoy your first 30 days free!