Bipartisan
Congressional
scrutiny
has
shone
a
harsh
spotlight
on
the
many
tactics
used
by
pharmacy
benefit
managers
(PBMs)
and
Big
Pharma
that
contribute
to
the
sky
high
costs
of
prescription
drugs
in
the
U.S.
Last
year,
the
nation
spent
$723
billion
in
prescription
drugs
alone
—
the
rest
of
the
world
combined
paid
nearly
the
same
amount.
Now,
the
FTC
has
sued
the
Big
3
PBMs
for
their
practices
tied
to
insulin.
Some
CEOs
of
pharma
companies
have
been
hauled
to
Congress
to
provide
testimony
about
why
drugs
cost
so
much.
However,
it
would
be
inaccurate
to
think
that
only
these
two
entities
drive
up
drug
costs
domestically.
Others
do
too.
As
Paul
Markovich,
CEO
of
Blue
Shield
of
California,
explained
in
an
event
in
spring,
both
drug
distributors
and
hospitals
are
also
to
blame.
See
these
videos
below.
Photo:
champc,
Getty
Images