WASHINGTON, DC, June 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- WASHINGTON, DC – The National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) applauds the decision by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to proceed with its planned 6(b) study to review pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) practices, and specifically the impact vertically integrated businesses have on access to and the affordability of medications. The study is expected to review PBM use of specialty drug lists, specialty drug policies, and other practices that limit specialty pharmacy networks and steer specialty patients and drugs away from those specialty pharmacies that are not otherwise owned or affiliated by a PBM or their vertically integrated partners.
NASP President and CEO Sheila Arquette, RPh stated, “This study has been a long time coming, and today it feels like the collective voice of non-affiliated specialty pharmacies is beginning to be heard. Clawbacks on pharmacies and other significant reimbursement limitations, patient steering, and deliberate efforts to preclude pharmacies from specialty pharmacy network participation must be addressed. All of these actions limit patient access to the pharmacies of their choice that they rely on to manage their complex and often life threatening specialty conditions. Now is the time to end this market manipulation. NASP looks forward to supporting the FTC’s ongoing efforts.”
NASP testified during the FTC’s hearing prior to an initial February vote on the 6(b) study held by the FTC. NASP also submitted extensive comments in response to the FTC’s Request for Information on these topics, highlighting concerns from all types of specialty pharmacies: independent, hospital-based, grocer-based, and others in one collective voice.
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The National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) is the only national association representing all stakeholders in the specialty pharmacy industry. NASP members include the nation’s leading specialty pharmacies, pharmaceutical and biotechnology manufacturers, group purchasing organizations, patient advocacy groups, integrated delivery systems and health plans, technology and data management vendors ,logistics providers, wholesalers/distributors and practicing pharmacists, nurses, and pharmacy technicians. With over 150 corporate members and 2,500 individual members, NASP is the unified voice of specialty pharmacy in the United States.
