News
from the fight to #SaveIndiePharmacy
New York Times’ The Middlemen series
Healthcare insurance companies blamed for 'pharmacy deserts' in Minnesota
Pharmacy benefit managers are being blamed for "pharmacy deserts" being left across Minnesota as inflating drug costs squeeze out small-town pharmacies. This local news story features our friend and fellow pharmacy advocate, Deborah Keaveny, RPh of Keaveny Drug (Winsted, MN)!
Pa. pharmacists say they’re receiving less money for drugs dispensed to Medicaid patients
Pennsylvania DHS says it will try to compel the insurance companies to reverse course, even though violated state contracts requiring that changes to pharmacy reimbursement rates be cleared with DHS first.
High insulin prices spur a federal lawsuit against three pharmacy benefit managers
The federal government is suing some big pharmacy benefit managers over a system of drug rebates that regulators say has made the price of insulin soar for diabetic patients.
FTC Sues Prescription Drug Middlemen for Artificially Inflating Insulin Drug Prices
Caremark, Express Scripts, Optum, and their affiliates created a broken rebate system that inflated insulin drug prices, boosting PBM profits at the expense of vulnerable patients, the FTC alleges.
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.
Medicare patient wrongly sent to collections in dispute between two UnitedHealth Group entities
The Minnesota-based insurer said he owed $275. The surgery center in St. Cloud wanted another $3,300. UnitedHealth owns both and is now apologizing.
The Opaque Industry Secretly Inflating Prices for Prescription Drugs
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are driving up drug costs for millions of people, employers and the government.
The second in “THE MIDDLEMEN” series of articles by reporters Rebecca Robins and Reed Abelson investigating PBMs.