PBM Accountability Project Statement on Chairman Comer’s Expanded Investigation into PBM Practices

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (R-KY) recently announced an expanding investigation into the role of PBMs by seeking information about how they use foreign headquartered group purchasing organizations (GPOs) to evade transparency and oversight in the U.S. Mark Blum, managing director of the PBM Accountability Project, issued the following statement in response to Chairman Comer’s decision:

“We applaud Chairman Comer and the Oversight Committee for expanding their investigation into PBMs and the use of foreign-based GPOs. This marks a crucial step toward holding PBMs accountable for practices that have driven up out-of-pocket costs of prescription drugs for patients and families across the country. These GPOs enable PBMs to shift revenues overseas, placing them beyond the reach of U.S. regulators and lawmakers. By adding additional layers of complexity, PBMs conceal their practices, avoid accountability and protect profits while patients are left to shoulder the rising cost of life-saving medicines.

“PBMs have continuously demonstrated that they will reform their business operations in any way possible to conceal revenue streams, and avoid reasonable transparency for their clients, including government healthcare programs. Real reform will require continued action to close loopholes, increase transparency, and put patients and employers ahead of middlemen profiteering. We commend the committee’s leadership and urge policymakers to build on this momentum until PBMs are held fully accountable and prescription drug affordability is no longer out of reach.”

To learn more about the PBM issue and legislative solutions, click here.