July 25,2023

Finance Committee Releases Chairman's Mark Ahead of Wednesday PBM Markup

Washington, D.C. – Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Ranking Member Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, today released the Chairman’s Mark of the Modernizing and Ensuring PBM Accountability (MEPA) Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at updating federal prescription drug programs to address pharmacy benefit manager practices that have grown increasingly complex and opaque in recent years at the expense of patients and taxpayers.

“This set of proposals is squarely aimed at addressing practices by drug middlemen that are driving up health costs for patients and taxpayers,” Wyden said. “I look forward to a constructive, bipartisan markup as the committee considers additional proposals from members. This week marks another important step towards a rational prescription drug pricing system that leads to lower costs and better outcomes for all Americans.”

“This package comprises a strong set of bipartisan, patient-focused proposals aimed at fueling competition, improving transparency, and mitigating misaligned incentives in Medicare Part D and Medicaid,” Crapo said. “We are taking an important step with this week’s markup, and I look forward to building on this foundation and continuing our critical work.”

The Chairman’s Mark can be found here. A section by section can be found here. A CBO analysis can be found here.

Amendments and additional information will be posted here ahead of the markup at 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

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Press Contact: Taylor Harvey