PULLING BACK THE CURTAIN ON PBMS: A PATH TOWARDS AFFORDABLE PRESCRIPTION DRUGS

Prescription drug prices in the United States continue to rise with no end in sight. Individuals are foregoing other needs to pay for their medicines while healthcare companies continue to rake in enormous profits. In this Essay, I discuss how Americans can reverse this oppressive drug pricing trend. As both a pharmacist and a member of Congress, I explain why drug prices are so high from a unique perspective, and illuminate what patients and Congress can do to bring prices down and advocate for a better system. After discussing various actors involved with prescription drug pricing, this Essay then focuses on Pharmacy Benefit Managers ("PBMs") as the clandestine menace of the healthcare industry. This Essay utilizes first-hand stories from patients, pharmacists, and doctors to illustrate why PBMs need to be exposed and held accountable. Most importantly, this Essay will provide a legislative framework for making lower drug prices a reality.