AMAC Action Weekly Advocacy Update: AMAC Members Help Spark Investigation
Following a robust nationwide outreach campaign from AMAC Members, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released an interim report highlighting potentially unethical practices on the part of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that could be forcing patients to pay more for prescription drugs while limiting patient choice.
PBMs are private intermediaries who are supposed to negotiate with drug manufacturers and pharmacies on behalf of insurance providers to deliver lower costs for patients. However, in recent years monopolistic practices and a lack of transparency have created cause for concern that PBMs may be abusing their position for their own gain while patients foot the bill.
From March through May 2022, the FTC opened a web page seeking comments on PBMs, likely anticipating hearing from doctors and patients. A total of 24,000 comments were submitted – 17,000 of them from AMAC members following a series of calls-to-action from AMAC Action.
Specifically citing the volume of comments received, the FTC announced an investigation into the business practices of the six leading PBM firms in the country. The agency’s interim report, released on July 9, noted that, “amidst increasing vertical integration and concentration,” PBMs “may be profiting by inflating drug costs and squeezing Main Street pharmacies.”
AMAC Action Senior Vice President Andy Mangione welcomed the results of the interim report saying, “We thank the FTC for conducting this investigation. The report’s findings validate our efforts seeking transparency and free-market reforms for pharmacy benefit managers that will likely lower drug costs for all Americans. We look forward to continuing this mission on behalf of the AMAC membership.”
When it comes to an issue as important as prescription drug price negotiations, patients deserve accountability and transparency. AMAC Action is proud to be an advocate for our members and hold PBMs to a high ethical standard for the critical role that they play in the drug supply chain.
Following the FTC investigation, the House Oversight and Accountability Committee also announced its own inquiry in an encouraging sign of bipartisan cooperation on this important issue. According to The Wall Street Journal, their report found that, “The drug middlemen that promise to control costs have instead steered patients toward higher-priced medicines and affiliated pharmacies.”
The House committee specifically unearthed emails from prominent PBMs “discouraging discussion” of using lower-priced alternatives to certain drugs in order to secure more kickbacks for PBMs.
Both Congress and the FTC have promised further action on this issue in the months ahead. AMAC Action will continue to press government officials for progress on this front and keep members informed on the latest developments.
You can read the entire FTC interim report HERE.
You can read the House Oversight Committee press release on its PBMs hearing HERE
AMAC Action Delegate Mark Laws Speaks at RNC
Mark Laws, AMAC Action Delegate for MI-02, spoke at the Republican National Convention on Day One! He spoke on issues important to America’s senior citizens and told the audience about the struggles seniors are facing under the Biden administration. His participation in the evening was a great reminder of the power of grassroots advocacy.
You can read Ian Gargan’s AMAC article HERE.
You can see Mark Laws’ speech HERE.
Calls-to-Action
Stop Ranked Choice Voting in Colorado
A wealthy Denver, Colorado billionaire just released petitions for a ballot initiative, #310, which would allegedly “modernize” Colorado’s election processes. It would create an all-new, all-candidates, all-party primary election, allowing all voters to vote for any candidate for each office, regardless of the voters’ or candidates’ political party affiliation. Voters will also be subjected to a complex and confusing voting process called Ranked Choice Voting in the General election. Three grass-roots citizen ballot initiatives, called “The Good Initiatives,” have been crafted to counter these threats to Colorado’s elections. Help is needed for Coloradans to not only sign petitions to ensure these initiatives appear on the ballot in November in Colorado but to also to circulate the petitions because signatures are required from voters in every Colorado Senate District. If you live in Colorado, click here to learn more and to sign the petitions!
Legislation and Policy Support
S. 4516 – AMAC Supports Bill to Remove DEI From the Federal Lexicon
The United States federal government has no business promoting discrimination toward federal employees or anyone else. This bill, introduced by U.S. Senator J.D. Vance from Ohio, intends to significantly reduce the influence of DEI programs in government operations. Especially impactful areas of the bill include closing DEI offices, defining and prohibiting DEI practices and training, and prohibiting negative employment consequences for those who opt out of the “woke” indoctrination. Click here to read AMAC Action’s letter of support.
Meetings
July 22 Candidate Forum: AMAC Action State Advocacy Representative John Whelan hosted a virtual forum for candidates for U.S. Senate representing Minnesota.
July 23 Candidate Forum: AMAC Action State Advocacy Representative John Whelan hosted a virtual forum for candidates of U.S. House of Representatives for WI-08.
July 24 Chapter Meeting: AZ-08 Delegate Nikki Colletti hosted a screening of the film “Letter to the American Church” for AMAC members in AZ-01, AZ-08, and AZ-09. The film examines the similarities between the church in Nazi Germany, the Mao and Stalin regimes, and modern-day America.
July 24 All-State Meeting: CO-05 Delegate Russ Cotten hosted the virtual Colorado All-State Meeting and
Candice Stutzriem, Republican Canvas Board Member for Colorado’s El Paso County, spoke about understanding and defeating Ranked Choice Voting (Ballot Initiative 310) in Colorado.
July 25 All-State Meeting: PA-11 Delegate Valerie Spelman hosted the virtual Pennsylvania All-State meeting and Dave McCormick, candidate for U.S. Senate, spoke to members.
Action ☆ Academy
Deepen and refine your love for America by studying her history in Hillsdale College’s free online course The Great American Story: A Land of Hope.
In honor of America’s 248th birthday, learn more about the history of the Declaration of Independence from the National Archive—The Declaration of Independence: A History
Learn the 700+ year history that leads to our founding documents in History of the Constitution, a free course available online through The Leadership Institute.
Quote of the Week
“If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions.”
― President Calvin Coolidge
Fight to save the America we love! If you’d like to become a volunteer AMAC Action Delegate, please contact us at (855) 809-6976 or [email protected].
