During campaign season, most state legislatures are out of session, allowing our elected leaders to meet with their constituents and conduct their re-election campaigns. Meanwhile, back at the statehouse, staff can plan for next year’s legislative session, meeting with business leaders and other interested parties to get a jump on the new year. Frequently, these “unofficial” gatherings are where the real work gets done.
Such was the case recently in Montgomery, where an “unofficial” legislative study group met in late August to discuss prescription drug costs. Some feathers were ruffled by those not on the invite list, of course, but you can guarantee that the interests of the big pharmaceutical companies were well-represented. That is terrible news for all Alabamans.
Big Pharma casts a wide net to protect its bottom line, both in Alabama and at the national level. No meeting is too small or legislator too unimportant for them to engage, knowing that their relentless efforts—and generous campaign donations—will get them the access they need. All this work is done for one reason – to increase their profits.
One constant thorn in Big Pharma’s side has been Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), entities contracted by businesses of all sizes to negotiate lower drug prices. PBMs use bulk pricing discounts on behalf of multiple employers to force drug companies to lower prescription drug costs for their clients, including the health plan that my business employs.
