Senator Lankford Questions Dr. Oz on Pharmacy Benefit Managers and Rural Healthcare

Oversight of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)

• 📌 Senator Lankford highlights the bipartisan work of the committee on PBMs, noting a passed bill that did not reach the floor in the previous session.
• ⚠️ The issue of PBMs is identified as a primary cause for the closure of over 450 independent pharmacies last year, disproportionately affecting rural healthcare access.
• 💡 Dr. Oz acknowledges the importance of PBMs in the drug supply chain but emphasizes the need for complete and radical transparency to address pricing spreads and potential fraud.
• 💰 Concerns are raised about spread pricing, where pharmacies are paid less than the charged amount, and whether rebates are fully passed on.

Impact on Rural Healthcare

• 🏥 Dr. Oz recognizes the challenges faced by rural communities in accessing healthcare and the vital role of local pharmacists.
• 📈 A specific PBM practice of tiering brand-name drugs with high rebates, even when generics are available, is criticized for driving up costs for taxpayers and the government.
• 📉 Studies indicate that over half of generic drugs are placed on the wrong tier, a legislative and CMS-addressable issue.

Nursing Home Staffing Regulations

• ⚠️ A new CMS rule requiring 24-hour care in long-term care facilities is flagged as a potential threat to rural nursing homes due to existing nurse shortages.
• 🏘️ Senator Lankford urges a review of this rule to prevent the closure of these essential facilities in rural areas.
• ✅ Dr. Oz pledges to focus on this issue and provide his thoughts if confirmed, acknowledging its importance from multiple perspectives.