Hold pharmacy managers accountable

I’m tired of paying more than I should at the pharmacy, and it’s disheartening that this problem traces back to ruthless middlemen known as pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

For patients like me, PBMs have been on our radar for quite some time. Last year, Governor Whitmer signed legislation protecting pharmacies in our state from the constant onslaught of threats from PBMs, but it’s now time for our leaders to take action that protects patients.

PBMs use a myriad of schemes that force higher out-of-pocket costs on patients, often delaying or blocking our access to life-saving care in the process. While they carve out rebates with drug manufacturers, PBMs often fail to pass down the bulk of these savings to patients. As anyone who relies on prescription medication knows, any amount of savings on these drugs can go a long way, and it’s frustrating these savings very well exist but usually just line the pockets of multi-billion dollar PBM corporations.

It’s incredibly frustrating that Congress could not pass legislation to protect patients from the constant exploitation of PBMs, even though we came so close. However, I’m grateful Michigan lawmakers are stepping up to hold PBMs in check, and I believe HB 5338 may go a long way to clean up their business practices and help patients. As Congress failed to pass these basic protections on a federal level this year, it’s more important than ever for our leaders to pass this bill and provide support to families across our state.

Ray Cleary Sterling Heights