Texas Pharmacy Association CEO Debbie Garza was invited to testify August 4 before the Texas House Select Committee on Health Care Reform as part of the House's interim charge concerning access to and affordability of prescription drugs. Garza provided a brief overview of the prescription drug reimbursement system, and then spoke to some of the ways that pharmacists can help improve outcomes and lower costs in the overall healthcare system.
"The objective of the PBM reform efforts passed last session was to increase transparency, improve competition among pharmacies, improve patient access, and eliminate self-dealing," Garza said. "We strongly support expanding the scope of those bills to include all PBM activity in the state, and hope that the Legislature will consider legislation to do so."
She also explained how pharmacists have played a key role in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and strongly encouraged lawmakers to pass legislation to make permanent the expanded immunization authority afforded to pharmacists by the federal Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act.
"We believe pharmacists can play a bigger role in providing access to healthcare services, managing chronic conditions, and ensuring the availability of needed medications," Garza said. "In order to be able to provide these services in their community, pharmacies must be able to compete in the prescription drug market on a level playing field—not one tilted by PBMs to solely benefit themselves." Watch Garza's testimony beginning at 7:36:30.
Among the other guests invited to testify was Antonio Ciaccia, a noted advocate for drug price transparency and expert on the topic of PBM reform from Ohio. Ciaccia provided committee members with additional insights about the challenges pharmacies face and potential remedies. Watch Ciaccia's testimony beginning at 3:46:30.
Too many PBMs do not help the patient and pay zero toward the RX cost but act as a discount card provider. Patient pays PBM for the right to get a discount price does not come close to paying for the cost of filling the RX and force patient to go to their pharmacy or mail order.
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