Please take a moment to review the policy issues we are facing right now and if you have any questions, please contact us at ExpressAction@express-scripts.com.
Biogenerics
Spending for biologics has grown tremendously over the last several years. In 2008 the average cost of a biologic was 30x that of a non-biologic drug. Express Scripts continues to urge Congress to pass legislation that will open the market to competition and provide patients and plan sponsors with safe, yet less costly options. Learn more about biogenerics.
Home Delivery
Our home delivery services are a safe, innovative, and cost-effective tool used by our patients and plan sponsors to receive medications and treatments every day. Retail and community pharmacists are asking legislators to place restrictions on this service including onerous licensure requirements, restrictions on network contracts and other barriers to this convenient cost-saving benefit for patients. Learn more about how Express Scripts continues to battle this issue.
PBM Tools
Express Scripts has a variety of innovative approaches that make the use of pharmacy safer and more affordable for millions of American families. These tools are medically appropriate, patient-centered and save working families money, which is more important than ever in today's economy. Brand pharmaceutical manufacturers vehemently oppose these tools to maintain and increase the use of higher cost brand name drugs. Express Scripts is working with legislators at the federal and state levels to prove that in addition to safety and cost effectiveness, giving patients the choice of generic drugs and PBM tools also lead to better drug compliance and improved health outcomes. Learn more about our efforts.
Changing Generic Drug Laws
Generic pharmaceuticals have saved the U.S. health care system $734 billion over the past decade — $121 billion of this was saved in 2008 alone. Yet despite the safety, quality and cost savings to American families who use FDA approved generic drugs, many pharmaceutical companies are seeking legislation to protect certain classes of brand name drugs from fair competition by identical generic alternatives. Learn more so that together we can prevent this legislation from passing in the states.
PBM Disclosure
When you go to the grocery store, is the owner required to provide you with all of the information on how he negotiates prices with farmers, advertisers, manufacturers and distributors? Seems ridiculous, yet this is exactly what will happen to us if laws are enacted that will remove or dilute the power of PBMs to negotiate for lower drug prices on behalf of health plans, employers, unions, and government programs. In the end, in addition to affecting company and product growth, it will result in higher prices for consumers and higher profits for drug companies and retail pharmacies.
Maintaining Plan Sponsor Choice
Critics of Express Scripts and other PBMs have introduced legislation that dictates the terms and conditions of contracts between PBMs and our clients. Mandating contract terms will increase costs and restrict ways for employers and health plans to manage the pharmacy benefit in a way that best meets the needs of their employees. Learn more about these mandates.
Fraud, Waste, and Abuse
One percent of prescription drug costs result from fraud, waste, and abuse, which amounts to hundreds of millions of dollars in unnecessary health care costs. Using our auditing programs, our clients rely on us to help detect and prevent fraud, waste and abuse in their prescription drug benefits. Our adversaries want legislators to pass legislation to reduce auditing functions and mandate payment timelines, which weakens our ability to carry out these functions.