Rep. Earl L. Carter, US Representative for Georgia's 1st District | Official U.S. House headshot
Rep. Earl L. Carter, US Representative for Georgia's 1st District | Official U.S. House headshot
Rep. Earl L. “Buddy” Carter (R-GA), a pharmacist by trade, issued a statement following the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) lawsuit against the nation's largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) – Optum Rx, Caremark, and Express Scripts – along with their respective group purchasing organizations. The lawsuit addresses concerns over rising insulin prices, which have impacted the health of over 8 million Americans.
“PBMs are finally facing accountability after decades of stealing lives and hope from patients," stated Carter. "In the early years of my pharmacy practice, insulin was affordable; now, the price is up 1,200% for some patients, forcing them to choose between paying for life-saving treatment and paying for gas, groceries, and other basic necessities. During this time, profits for Optum RX, Express Scripts, and Caremark have soared. What PBMs are doing to all patients, especially those who rely on insulin, is criminal. I applaud FTC Chair Lina Khan for taking this critical step and sending a message that PBMs’ days of abusing patients are coming to an end. It is time to bust this monopoly up for good.”
Rep. Carter has been a prominent figure in healthcare reform and has championed several legislative efforts aimed at regulating PBMs:
- Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act: A bill that bans spread pricing in Medicaid and ensures fair reimbursement for pharmacists serving Medicaid patients.
- PBM Accountability Act: A bill increasing transparency in the drug supply chain by raising reporting requirements for PBMs.
- Protecting Patients Against PBM Abuses Act: A bill delinking PBM compensation from drug prices and limiting their income to a flat-dollar fee to remove incentives steering patients towards higher-cost drugs.
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