• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

PCMA Statement on Senator Baucus' Health Care Reform Agenda

Posted on: Wednesday, 12 November 2008, 15:00 CST

The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) released the following statement on the "Call to Action" white paper released today by Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) which outlines various policy options to reform and expand access to health benefits:

"We commend Senator Baucus for his ongoing determination to improve the quality, affordability and accessibility of American health care. Senator Baucus is wise to focus on prevention, wellness and the unique needs of those with chronic conditions. We look forward to working with him and others on bi-partisan initiatives that will improve quality, accountability and affordability. These include:

-- Promoting comparative effectiveness programs which will improve clinical decision-making, enhance quality and discourage wasteful spending;

-- Accelerating adoption of waste-cutting health information technologies such as e-prescribing that alert patients and doctors alike when affordable choices are available;

-- Allowing generic competition for biologics and greater formulary competition in Part D;

-- Having CBO, OMB and others re-examine provisions in Medicare Part D that increase costs but don't help beneficiaries; and

-- Allowing greater use of mail service pharmacies in federal programs.

"If we do these things, health care reform can help finance itself and move beyond past debates which focused on simply shifting costs from one payer to another."

PCMA is the national association representing America's pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which administer prescription drug plans for more than 210 million Americans with health coverage provided through Fortune 500 employers, health insurance plans, labor unions, and Medicare Part D.

Source: Business Wire

More News in this Category