Express Scripts Comments on FTC's Reckless Insulin Action
Express Scripts, a subsidiary of The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), has responded to the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) recent action on insulin. Andrea Nelson, Chief Legal Officer of The Cigna Group, criticized the FTC's move as part of a pattern of unsubstantiated attacks on pharmacy benefit managers. Express Scripts argues that the FTC's action, if successful, could drive drug prices higher by forcing PBMs to include drugs on formularies regardless of cost or clinical necessity.
The company intends to vigorously defend itself to protect its ability to lower drug costs for clients and consumers. Express Scripts highlighted its 2019 initiative to cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $25 for a 30-day supply, predating government action. The company also referenced its recent lawsuit against the FTC, demanding the retraction of what it calls a flawed report on pharmacy benefit managers.
Express Scripts, una filiale del The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), ha risposto all'azione recente della Federal Trade Commission (FTC) riguardo all'insulina. Andrea Nelson, Direttore Legale del The Cigna Group, ha criticato la mossa della FTC come parte di un modello di attacchi infondati ai gestori dei benefici farmaceutici. Express Scripts sostiene che l'azione della FTC, se avrà successo, potrebbe aumentare i prezzi dei farmaci costringendo i gestori dei benefici farmaceutici a includere farmaci nei formulari indipendentemente dal costo o dalla necessità clinica.
L'azienda intende difendersi vigorosamente per proteggere la propria capacità di ridurre i costi dei farmaci per clienti e consumatori. Express Scripts ha evidenziato la propria iniziativa del 2019 per limitare i costi out-of-pocket per l'insulina a 25 dollari per un approvvigionamento di 30 giorni, antecedente all'azione del governo. L'azienda ha anche fatto riferimento alla sua recente causa contro la FTC, chiedendo la retrazione di quello che definisce un rapporto errato sui gestori dei benefici farmaceutici.
Express Scripts, una subsidiaria de The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), ha respondido a la acción reciente de la Comisión Federal de Comercio (FTC) sobre la insulina. Andrea Nelson, Directora Legal de The Cigna Group, criticó la medida de la FTC como parte de un patrón de ataques infundados a los administradores de beneficios de farmacia. Express Scripts argumenta que la acción de la FTC, si tiene éxito, podría incrementar los precios de los medicamentos al obligar a los administradores de beneficios de farmacia a incluir medicamentos en los formularios sin tener en cuenta el costo o la necesidad clínica.
La empresa tiene la intención de defenderse enérgicamente para proteger su capacidad de reducir los costos de medicamentos para clientes y consumidores. Express Scripts destacó su iniciativa de 2019 para limitar los costos de bolsillo de la insulina a 25 dólares por un suministro de 30 días, anterior a la acción del gobierno. La compañía también mencionó su reciente demanda contra la FTC, exigiendo la retractación de lo que considera un informe defectuoso sobre los administradores de beneficios de farmacia.
Express Scripts는 The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI)의 자회사로써, 최근 미국 연방 거래 위원회(FTC)의 인슐린 관련 조치에 응답했습니다. 앤드리아 넬슨, The Cigna Group의 법무 최고 책임자는 FTC의 조치를 약국 혜택 관리자를 향한 근거 없는 공격의 일환으로 비판했습니다. Express Scripts는 FTC의 조치가 성공할 경우 약물 가격을 상승시킬 수 있다고 주장하며, 약국 혜택 관리자가 비용이나 임상적 필요에 관계없이 약물을 처방 목록에 포함시키도록 강요할 것이라고 말했습니다.
회사는 자신을 강력히 방어할 의도가 있다고 밝혔으며, 고객과 소비자를 위한 약물 비용을 낮출 수 있는 능력을 보호하고자 합니다. Express Scripts는 2019년에 인슐린의 자부담 비용을 30일 분에 25달러로 제한하는 이니셔티브를 강조했으며, 이는 정부 조치에 앞선 것입니다. 이 회사는 또한 약국 혜택 관리자에 대한 결함이 있는 보고서의 철회를 요구하는 FTC에 대한 최근의 소송에 대해서도 언급했습니다.
Express Scripts, une filiale de The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), a réagi à la récente action de la Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sur l'insuline. Andrea Nelson, Directrice Juridique de The Cigna Group, a critiqué le mouvement de la FTC comme faisant partie d'un schéma d'attaques infondées contre les gestionnaires de prestations pharmaceutiques. Express Scripts soutient que l'action de la FTC, si elle réussit, pourrait faire grimper les prix des médicaments en obligeant les gestionnaires de prestations pharmaceutiques à inclure des médicaments dans les listes de formulaires sans tenir compte du coût ou de la nécessité clinique.
L'entreprise entend se défendre vigoureusement pour protéger sa capacité à réduire les coûts des médicaments pour les clients et les consommateurs. Express Scripts a mis en avant son initiative de 2019 visant à limiter les coûts à la charge des patients pour l'insuline à 25 dollars pour une fourniture de 30 jours, antérieure à l'action gouvernementale. L'entreprise a également mentionné sa récente poursuite contre la FTC, exigeant le retrait de ce qu'elle appelle un rapport défectueux sur les gestionnaires de prestations pharmaceutiques.
Express Scripts, eine Tochtergesellschaft der The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), hat auf die jüngste Aktion der Federal Trade Commission (FTC) bezüglich Insulin reagiert. Andrea Nelson, Chief Legal Officer der The Cigna Group, kritisierte den Schritt der FTC als Teil eines Musters von unbegründeten Angriffen auf Arzneimittelmanager. Express Scripts argumentiert, dass die Maßnahme der FTC, wenn sie erfolgreich ist, die Arzneimittelpreise erhöhen könnte, indem sie die Arzneimittelmanager zwingt, Medikamente unabhängig von Kosten oder klinischer Notwendigkeit in die Formulare aufzunehmen.
Das Unternehmen hat die Absicht, sich energisch zu verteidigen, um seine Fähigkeit zur Senkung der Medikamentenkosten für Kunden und Verbraucher zu schützen. Express Scripts hob seine Initiative von 2019 hervor, die Eigenkosten für Insulin auf 25 Dollar für eine 30-Tage-Versorgung zu begrenzen, die der Regierungsaktion vorausging. Das Unternehmen verwies auch auf seine kürzliche Klage gegen die FTC, in der es die Rücknahme eines als fehlerhaft bezeichneten Berichts über Arzneimittelmanager fordert.
- Express Scripts capped out-of-pocket costs for insulin at $25 for a 30-day supply in 2019
- The company is committed to defending its ability to lower drug costs for clients and consumers
- Express Scripts serves thousands of clients and millions of Americans
- FTC's action could potentially force PBMs to include higher-cost drugs on formularies
- The company is facing legal challenges from the FTC
- Ongoing regulatory scrutiny and potential legal battles may impact business operations
Insights
The FTC's action against Express Scripts represents a significant legal challenge to the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) industry. This lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for how PBMs operate and negotiate drug prices. Express Scripts' strong rebuttal and intent to "vigorously defend itself" suggests a protracted legal battle ahead.
The company's argument that the FTC's action could paradoxically increase drug prices by forcing PBMs to include higher-cost drugs on formularies raises important questions about the unintended consequences of regulatory intervention in complex healthcare markets. This case may set a precedent for future regulation of PBMs and could reshape the landscape of drug pricing negotiations.
Express Scripts' proactive approach to insulin pricing, implementing a
The conflict between Express Scripts and the FTC underscores the ongoing debate about the role of PBMs in the US healthcare system. The outcome of this dispute could significantly impact future healthcare policy, potentially leading to increased scrutiny of PBM practices or, conversely, reinforcing their importance in cost containment. This case may become a catalyst for broader healthcare reform discussions.
This legal challenge poses a potential risk to Express Scripts and its parent company, The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI). If the FTC's action succeeds, it could disrupt the PBM business model, potentially impacting Cigna's revenue and profitability. Investors should monitor this situation closely, as it may have implications for the entire healthcare sector.
However, Express Scripts' strong market position and history of adapting to regulatory changes suggest it may be well-positioned to navigate this challenge. The company's proactive stance on insulin pricing could be viewed favorably by stakeholders. Long-term investors should consider the broader industry trends and potential for regulatory changes when evaluating Cigna and other companies in the PBM space.
Express Scripts was the first to cap out-of-pocket costs for insulin medications at
Attributable to Andrea Nelson, Chief Legal Officer, The Cigna Group:
"This action continues a troubling pattern from the FTC of unsubstantiated and ideologically-driven attacks on pharmacy benefit managers, following the FTC's biased and misleading July 2024 report, which Express Scripts demanded the Commission retract earlier this week. Once again, the FTC – a government agency funded by taxpayer dollars – is proving that the FTC does not understand drug pricing and instead is choosing to ignore the facts and score political points, rather than focus on its duty to protect consumers.
"The fact is that in the unlikely event the FTC succeeds in its suit and forces PBMs to include drugs on formulary even if they have higher net costs for plan sponsors – and regardless of whether they are clinically necessary – the FTC will drive drug prices higher in this country. This will hurt consumers and those who provide their prescription drug benefits – including employers, labor unions, and the federal government itself.
"Express Scripts intends to vigorously defend itself to protect our ability to lower drug costs for the thousands of clients and the millions of Americans we serve. In a world where pharmaceutical manufacturers continue to raise the price of medications every year, Express Scripts' work is more important than ever, and we won't allow baseless suits and false information to deter us from our mission."
Facts about Express Scripts and insulin can be found here. Additional information about Express Scripts' lawsuit filed against the FTC on September 17 to demand the retraction of its flawed and unsubstantiated report on pharmacy benefit managers can be found here.
About Evernorth Health Services
Evernorth Health Services creates pharmacy, care and benefits solutions to improve health and increase vitality. We relentlessly innovate to make the prediction, prevention and treatment of illness and disease more accessible to millions of people. Evernorth capabilities are powered by our businesses, including Express Scripts, Express Scripts® Pharmacy, Accredo, eviCore and MDLIVE, along with holistic Evernorth platforms and solutions that move people and organizations forward. All Evernorth solutions are serviced and provided by or through operating affiliates of Evernorth Health, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Cigna Group (NYSE: CI), or third-party partners. Learn more at evernorth.com.
Media Contact
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justine.sessions@evernorth.com
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SOURCE Express Scripts
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