‘It’s beyond unethical’: Opaque conflicts of interest permeate prescription drug benefits

This investigation by STAT News showed that there’s a hidden flow of money between major consulting firms and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), or the middlemen who handle prescription drug coverage. Our CEO Chris Blackley weighed in: “[Blackley] said if a consultant is running a request for bids and is requiring some kind of payment to the consultant from his PBM, he will either decline to participate or insist on complete transparency. ‘To the extent that there’s a sense of integrity in the process, we require in the contract that the broker or consultant disclose to the client that they are receiving compensation [from the PBM], and that they’re requiring it,’ Blackley said. ‘The conflict exists.’” Learn more in STAT News.