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What’s Next for Retail Pharmacy: Data, Debate, and Disruption.
Don’t miss DCI’s June 20, 2025, webinar, featuring Dr. Adam J. Fein and Antonio Ciaccia. We’ll unpack the good, the bad, and the ugly of the pharmacy industry—and explore what it means for you. This dynamic session will blend expert insights and real-time debate. Join us!
Thoughts on MFN, Adam J. Fein on LinkedIn
President Trump’s executive order introducing a Most Favored Nation (MFN) pricing model sparked intense debate across the Drug Channels community.
I kicked things off with my hot take on LinkedIn:
In a follow-up post, I highlighted how many oncology drugs are unavailable in most European countries due to strict price controls—a cautionary tale often overlooked in policy debates. This post also generated hundreds of reactions and dozens of comments.
I kicked things off with my hot take on LinkedIn:
International reference pricing is a flawed policy shortcut, not a sustainable solution.This post generated 48,000 impressions, 480+ reactions, and 35+ comments—a vibrant mix of perspectives worth reading.
Benchmarking U.S. drug prices vs. other countries ignores fundamental structural differences in healthcare financing, delivery, and value assessment frameworks. Rather than importing foreign price controls, our policies should be economically rigorous and address the real issues: warped incentives, lack of value-based pricing mechanisms, and systemic opacity in the drug channel.
Targeting a small (but politically unpopular) slice of spending with blunt international comparisons will generate headlines, but risks a cascade of unintended consequences.
In a follow-up post, I highlighted how many oncology drugs are unavailable in most European countries due to strict price controls—a cautionary tale often overlooked in policy debates. This post also generated hundreds of reactions and dozens of comments.
2025 Trends in Specialty Drug Benefits Report, Pharmaceutical Strategies Group (PSG)
PSG’s latest report offers a revealing look at how plan sponsors view rebate reform, based on survey responses from 231 employers, health plans, and union/Taft-Hartley groups.
Key insights:
My takeaway: Plan sponsors are not demanding rebate reform—and certainly aren’t lobbying Congress to regulate PBMs on their behalf.
As I asked last October: If Plan Sponsors Are So Unhappy with Their PBMs’ Transparency, Why Won’t They Change the Model?.
Key insights:
- Only a minority of plan sponsors are "very interested" in alternatives to rebates for managing specialty drug costs.
- Most do not support passing rebates directly to patients at the point of sale.
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My takeaway: Plan sponsors are not demanding rebate reform—and certainly aren’t lobbying Congress to regulate PBMs on their behalf.
As I asked last October: If Plan Sponsors Are So Unhappy with Their PBMs’ Transparency, Why Won’t They Change the Model?.
PBMs No Longer Profit From Rebates But Plans Benefit; Should Sponsors Push More For Reform, The Pink Sheet
Speaking of plan sponsors, Cathy Kelly at The Pink Sheet penned an excellent summary of my April webinar: PBM Industry Update: Trends, Challenges, and What’s Ahead.
Key point: PBMs are evolving their business models to sidestep legislative and plan sponsor scrutiny, yet many plan sponsors seem uninformed about these changes. I believe employers and payers must become more proactive in lowering patient cost-sharing at the point of sale.
Fun sidebar: Mark Cuban joined the conversation on LinkedIn.
Key point: PBMs are evolving their business models to sidestep legislative and plan sponsor scrutiny, yet many plan sponsors seem uninformed about these changes. I believe employers and payers must become more proactive in lowering patient cost-sharing at the point of sale.
Fun sidebar: Mark Cuban joined the conversation on LinkedIn.
PBM Power Play: Examining Competition Issues in the Prescription Drug Supply Chain,
You may have seen something familiar during the recent Senate Hearing on PBMs:
Alas, Senator Hawley cited National Community Pharmacists Association as the source (rather than DCI), relied on DCI's outdated 2024 chart, and added some inaccurate commentary. Oh well.
Hopefully, someone in Senator Hawley’s office stumbles across our updated analysis: Mapping the Vertical Integration of Insurers, PBMs, Specialty Pharmacies, and Providers: DCI’s 2025 Update and Competitive Outlook.
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Alas, Senator Hawley cited National Community Pharmacists Association as the source (rather than DCI), relied on DCI's outdated 2024 chart, and added some inaccurate commentary. Oh well.
Hopefully, someone in Senator Hawley’s office stumbles across our updated analysis: Mapping the Vertical Integration of Insurers, PBMs, Specialty Pharmacies, and Providers: DCI’s 2025 Update and Competitive Outlook.
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