PBMs Driving Up Cost of Prescription Drugs, Nixed HHS Guidance on Hospital Web Trackers & More

PBMs Driving Up Prescription Drug Prices

The three largest pharmacy benefit managers—CVS Health, Cigna and UnitedHealth Group—often “steer patients toward pricier drugs, charge steep markups on what would otherwise be inexpensive medicines and extract billions of dollars in hidden fees,” according to an investigation by The New York Times. And as a result of recent mergers, the PBMs now collectively handle about 80% of prescriptions in the United States, up from less than 50% in 2012. (NEW YORK TIMES)

Federal Court Strikes Down HHS Guidance on Hospital Web Trackers

A federal district court ruled that the Department of Health and Human Services exceeded its authority last year when it issued guidance informing hospitals that tracking visitors to their websites violated health privacy rules. The American Hospital Association filed a lawsuit challenging the guidance in November. (POLITICO)

Mixed Results for Alternative Drug Therapy Bills in AZ

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) signed a bill (SB 1677) providing for workers’ compensation coverage for the treatment of firefighters and peace officers suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder with MDMA, or ecstasy. But Hobbs also vetoed a bill (SB 1570) that would have authorized psychedelic-assisted therapy centers where individuals could receive treatment with psilocybin. (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET 

—Compiled by SNCJ Managing Editor KOREY CLARK

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