The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently launched an inquiry into the prescription drug middleman industry, requiring the six largest pharmacy benefit managers to provide information and records regarding their business practices within 90 days, the agency announced recently. FTC said the inquiry will scrutinize the impact of vertically integrated PBMs on the access and affordability of prescription drugs. Last month, the American Hospital Association urged the FTC to investigate certain practices by health plans and pharmacy benefit managers, commonly referred to as “white bagging,” which disallow health care providers from procuring and managing the drugs they administer to patients. White bagging continues to be a priority for the New Hampshire Hospital Association.
