Washington, D.C. November 12, 2019 - The American College of Physicians (ACP) today released new policy papers calling for changes that would mitigate rising prescription drug costs. Policy Recommendations for Public Health Plans to Stem the Escalating Costs of Prescription Drugs: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians and Policy Recommendations for Pharmacy Benefit Managers to Stem the Escalating Costs of Prescription Drugs: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians were published in Annals of Internal Medicine and provide recommendations to improve transparency in industry and government, examine the role of the Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM), and address issues in public health plans that create barriers to care.
"The U.S. pays more for prescription drugs than any other developed country--putting a great strain on our patients," said Robert McLean, MD, FACP, president, ACP. "As physicians, we have a responsibility to address issues that create obstacles to care for our patients, including skyrocketing prescription drug costs."
The new recommendations expand on ACP's 2016 policy paper, Stemming the Escalating Cost of Prescription Drugs, and focus on the need for increased transparency in how drugs are priced, lowering the out-of-pocket costs for patients, enhancing the government's purchasing power, and take a closer look at the roles PBMs and public health plans play in the industry and how to help stem the rising cost of prescription drugs.
To address the complex factors at play, ACP's paper offers a series of recommendations aimed at improving transparency surrounding PBMs and underscores the need for reliable and timely information on prescription drug pricing for physicians and patients. ACP:
ACP's paper also addresses issues in public health plans, including the Medicare and Medicaid programs, which can add costs to the health care system and increase expenses for patients. ACP:
"Internists have seen first-hand the how the increasing costs of prescription drugs have impacted patients," said Dr. McLean. "Not all patients can afford the expensive out-of-pocket costs for vital drugs, and the high price tag can cause patients to not adhere to their medications, take incorrect doses to make their supply last longer, or forgo the medication they need altogether. It's more important than ever to continue advocating for policies that make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible to patients, and ensure they are not boxed out of the care they need."
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About the American College of Physicians
The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 145 countries worldwide. ACP membership includes 159,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow ACP on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
Annals of Internal Medicine