New pharmacy group announces national campaign against PBM abuses

The organization's members, who now number 200 pharmacists and pharmacy owners from more than 35 states, came together in reaction to the potential merger of PBM giants Express Scripts and Medco.

"PBMs are remarkably effective at increasing their profits and market shares," the group announced. "The pending $29.1 billion merger of Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions would create the largest PBM in the nation. If the merger is approved by the federal government, potential for widespread PBM abuse would grow to an alarming new height."

"PBMs have been engaging in a misleading smear campaign against one of America's most trusted professionals, the community pharmacist, for some time now," said David Marley, an independent pharmacist and a member of the coalition. "We decided it was time to set the record straight on who the real culprits are behind ever-increasing employer drug costs: the PBMs themselves."

"This is a hidden and inextricable piece of the greater healthcare debate unfolding in America," said Lawrence Kopp, a campaign strategist and president of The TASC Group, a consulting firm in New York City. "The public will share my outrage when they learn the truth about drug prices and the people obstructing access to medicine."

PUTT welcomes pharmacists from all community practice settings, whether independently owned or part of retail chain operations. Interested pharmacists should send their names and e-mail addresses to rxdisclosure@gmail.com

For more information, go to the group's website, http://http:TruthRX.org/.

- From staff reports