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Rally outside Optum HQ brings debate over pharmacy benefits managers to Twin Cities
Patients, providers, and legislators gathered to allege biggest players are ballooning drug costs while running independent pharmacies out of business; Optum denied claims.
Minnesota legislation targets health insurers’ power to block medical care, medications
House bill would prevent redundant insurance red-tape for treatment of chronic diseases. The fate of prior authorization will be decided in the session’s final days.
HMO profits from Minnesota state programs jump to $675.8M with enrollment surge
Enrollees used less care than expected, and a state program to cap profits was no longer in place, leading to an increase of about 181% in operating income.
The biggest Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are profiting by systematically underpaying independent drugstores, creating “pharmacy deserts” across the country.
The third in “THE MIDDLEMEN” series of articles by reporters Rebecca Robins and Reed Abelson investigating PBMs .