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FEDERALhearing transcript

Senate Hearing on Prescription Drug Costs and Delivery Systems

Original title: THE COST OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: HOW THE DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEM AFFECTS WHAT PATIENTS PAY, PART II

January 1, 2019

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The Frame

What this does

The hearing provides insight into the complex supply chain of prescription drugs, which directly influences the out-of-pocket costs for patients and the overall affordability of healthcare services.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Patients

The drug delivery system discussed in the hearing determines the final out-of-pocket costs patients pay for prescription medications.

Pharmaceutical Industry

Industry representatives provided testimony regarding their roles in the drug supply chain and the factors influencing drug pricing.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2019.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

This document is a transcript of a 2017 Senate committee hearing examining how the —including manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacy benefit managers—impacts the prices patients pay for prescription medications. The hearing featured testimony from industry representatives and included follow-up questions from committee members.

Key Facts

  • The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing on October 17, 2017, to investigate the prescription drug delivery system.
  • The hearing focused on identifying factors within the supply chain that contribute to the final price paid by patients.
  • Testimony was provided by representatives from pharmaceutical manufacturers, generic drug associations, drug distributors, pharmacy benefit managers, and pharmacists.
  • The document includes formal written statements and summary statements from five industry organizations.
  • The committee members submitted additional questions for the record to the witnesses following the hearing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the purpose of this hearing?
The hearing was held to examine how the various parts of the —such as manufacturers, distributors, and pharmacy benefit managers—affect the costs that patients pay for their prescriptions.
Who testified at the hearing?
Representatives from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the Association for Accessible Medicines, the Healthcare Distribution Alliance, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, and the American Pharmacists Association provided testimony.

Why It Matters

The hearing provides insight into the complex supply chain of prescription drugs, which directly influences the out-of-pocket costs for patients and the overall affordability of healthcare services.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift80% confidence

Focus on Supply Chain Transparency

The hearing highlights a shift toward examining the entire drug supply chain rather than just manufacturer pricing to understand patient costs.

Connected Entities

personLori M. ReillyExecutive Vice President, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of AmericaMap →
personElizabeth A. GallenaghSenior VP, Healthcare Distribution AllianceMap →
personMark MerrittCEO, Pharmaceutical Care Management AssociationMap →
personThomas E. MenighanCEO, American Pharmacists AssociationMap →
personChester "Chip" Davis, Jr.CEO, Association for Accessible MedicinesMap →
personLamar AlexanderChairman of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and PensionsMap →
personPatty MurrayU.S. Senator from WashingtonMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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