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July 13, 2012

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News for the PBM Industry

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Drugstore lobby's agenda increases costs for consumers, employers
"While independent drugstores are trying to maximize their own reimbursements, pharmacy benefit managers are hired by large and small employers, unions, Medicare Part D, the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and state government employee plans to drive down prescription costs," writes Charles Cote, assistant vice president for strategic communications at the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association. Self Funding Magazine (7/2012)

Legislative & Regulatory News

Governors question specifics of Medicaid expansion
Some governors plan to opt out of the PPACA's Medicaid expansion, but even governors in states that plan to implement the law have questions about it. Governors are unsure whether states will be allowed to restrict eligibility later, whether they will be eligible for federal expansion funds later if they opt out now and whether they may participate in some but not all of the requirements. The Washington Post (7/12)

Some governors ask for a redo on Medicaid
USA TODAY (7/12)

PBM Industry News

PBM to shift coverage to more affordable therapies
Pharmacy benefit manager CVS Caremark plans to add 17 medications to its formulary exclusions list of drugs for which less expensive alternatives exist. The Wall Street Journal/Dow Jones Newswires (7/12)

Lifting the ban on copay cards in Mass. will increase Rx costs
Massachusetts lifted a ban on copay cards and coupons for brand-name drugs, a move that will increase costs for consumers and employers, experts say. AIS Health/Drug Benefit News (7/12)

Drug Industry Spotlight

Drug industry trade groups spar over biosimilar naming
The Generic Pharmaceutical Association has urged the FDA to apply the same nomenclature standards to biosimilar drugs that are used for generic drugs. The group said assigning new names to biosimilars would create confusion and is a strategy to protect market share. Pharmalot.com/Pharma Blog (7/12)

FDA OKs Watson's generic of Pfizer's arthritis drug Arthrotec
The FDA approved Watson Laboratories' delayed-release tablet of diclofenac sodium and misoprostol for rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis patients at high risk of duodenal and gastric ulcer induced by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. The treatment is a generic version of Pfizer's Arthrotec. Pharmaceutical Business Review Online (7/12)

SmartQuote

As time passes we all get better at blazing a trail through the thicket of advice."

--Margot Bennett,
Scottish-Australian writer

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Contact PCMA

Charles Cote
Assistant Vice President, Strategic Communications
(202) 207-3610

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About PCMA

PCMA is the national association representing America's pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which administer prescription drug plans for more than 210 million Americans with health coverage provided through Fortune 500 employers, health insurance plans, labor unions, and Medicare Part D. PCMA is dedicated to enhancing the proven tools and techniques pioneered by PBMs that generate savings and access for consumers and payors.


	Recent PCMA SmartBrief Issues: Thursday, July 12, 2012 Wednesday, July 11, 2012 Tuesday, July 10, 2012 Monday, July 09, 2012 Friday, July 06, 2012			Lead Editor: Melissa Turner Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 555 11th ST NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20004