Bipartisan HELP draft bill seeks to squeeze PBMs, enhance generic and biosimilar competition
The Senate health committee Thursday released bipartisan draft legislation, the Lower Health Care Costs Act of 2019, that attempts to squeeze PBM profits out of the drug supply chain, eliminate tactics branded drug manufacturers use to block generic competition, and smooth the path to market for biosimilars.
The bill steers clear of politically controversial proposals. Most of the provisions have broad bipartisan support -- many were in President Donald Trump’s budget proposal - increasing the chances that the bill will be enacted. It was quickly endorsed on Twitter by former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, special partner at New Enterprise Associates, and Farzad Mostashari, National Coordinator for Health IT during the Obama administration. Mostashari is founder of Aledade, a company that helps primary care physicians to build and lead accountable care organizations (ACOs)...