Delaware News

Auditor McGuiness: Time to Reform Pharmacy Benefit Manager’s Oversight of State Employees’ Prescription Drug Plan

Auditor of Accounts | Former Auditor of Accounts - Kathy McGuiness | News | Date Posted: Wednesday, June 30, 2021



DOVER, DEL. – State Auditor Kathy McGuiness today released the following statement regarding proposed regulations for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs):

“This month, I released a report titled ‘Lack of Transparency & Accountability in Drug Pricing Could be Costing Taxpayers Millions’ that listed the ways poor contracting with Express Scripts Inc. (ESI) cost Delawareans over three times the average drug inflationary rate. My team specifically discussed the financial impact on the State Benefits Office (SBO) and how ESI cost Delaware’s taxpayers over $24.5 million more than they should have paid for state employees’ prescription drugs.

“PBMs would like everyone to believe that legislative limits on their predatory practices would result in higher healthcare costs, but the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) released a report, ‘Controlling PBM Conflicts of Interest Does Not Raise Healthcare Costs,’ that compares premium increases between 2015 and 2019 and notes that:

‘The premium increase in states with licensing authority over PBMs during that period was .3% below the national average, while states without licensing authority saw their premiums increase .4% above the national average.’

“The First State has a tremendous opportunity to have better oversight and administrative practices. Delawareans have already paid more than they should have.

“Failing to take action now continues a concerning trend that leaves Delawareans footing an inflated bill.”

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Contact:
Anna Nuzzolese, Executive Assistant
302-857-3907
Anna.Nuzzolese@delaware.gov

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Auditor McGuiness: Time to Reform Pharmacy Benefit Manager’s Oversight of State Employees’ Prescription Drug Plan

Auditor of Accounts | Former Auditor of Accounts - Kathy McGuiness | News | Date Posted: Wednesday, June 30, 2021



DOVER, DEL. – State Auditor Kathy McGuiness today released the following statement regarding proposed regulations for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs):

“This month, I released a report titled ‘Lack of Transparency & Accountability in Drug Pricing Could be Costing Taxpayers Millions’ that listed the ways poor contracting with Express Scripts Inc. (ESI) cost Delawareans over three times the average drug inflationary rate. My team specifically discussed the financial impact on the State Benefits Office (SBO) and how ESI cost Delaware’s taxpayers over $24.5 million more than they should have paid for state employees’ prescription drugs.

“PBMs would like everyone to believe that legislative limits on their predatory practices would result in higher healthcare costs, but the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) released a report, ‘Controlling PBM Conflicts of Interest Does Not Raise Healthcare Costs,’ that compares premium increases between 2015 and 2019 and notes that:

‘The premium increase in states with licensing authority over PBMs during that period was .3% below the national average, while states without licensing authority saw their premiums increase .4% above the national average.’

“The First State has a tremendous opportunity to have better oversight and administrative practices. Delawareans have already paid more than they should have.

“Failing to take action now continues a concerning trend that leaves Delawareans footing an inflated bill.”

###

Contact:
Anna Nuzzolese, Executive Assistant
302-857-3907
Anna.Nuzzolese@delaware.gov

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.