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 has issued a statement following the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) unanimous decision to release a second interim staff report on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The report highlights that the top three PBMs have increased drug prices for chronic disease patients by as much as 1,000 percent.
Carter criticized the practices of these PBMs, stating, "Pharmacy benefit managers are stealing hope and health from patients, outrageously marking up the cost of lifesaving medications and refusing to dispense lower-cost alternatives." He further noted that just three PBMs accumulated more than $7 billion in markups alone. This situation is exacerbated by rising premiums, closures of independent pharmacies, and chronic disease patients not receiving their prescribed medications.
He commended the FTC for its bipartisan effort in addressing what he described as criminal actions within the health care system. Carter emphasized the need for reform, declaring, "Our health care system puts profits before patients, and it’s time for a change. Patients are counting on us to enact common sense reforms, and I will continue leading that charge."
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