WASHINGTON, DC (May 21, 2019): The Council for Affordable Health Coverage (CAHC) – a coalition of employers, insurers, life science companies, PBMs, brokers, agents, patient groups, and physician organizations – spoke out in anticipation of a House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing later this morning on drug cost transparency for consumers.
CAHC President Joel White released the following statement:
“CAHC shares the subcommittee’s commitment to improving prescription drug cost transparency for consumers and applauds Chairwoman Eshoo (D-CA) for convening this bipartisan hearing,” said CAHC President Joel White. “Congress cannot expect to deliver meaningful transparency for patients without offering transparency at the point of prescribing. Real-time benefit tools (RTBTs) are a groundbreaking innovation that can help meet this goal and must not be left out of these conversations on Capitol Hill.”
White continued, “RTBTs empower patients to understand their cost-sharing information upfront before they arrive at the pharmacy counter and, if necessary, pursue more cost-effective treatment options in consultation with their provider. A study by CAHC member CVS Health showed savings of over $100 per fill from these tools. We urge lawmakers to act on the recommendations in our Prescriptions for Savings blueprint by putting RTBTs to use in Medicare drug plans without delay.”
CAHC briefed Congressional aides on the benefits of RTBTs earlier this month and secured inclusion of RTBT provisions in last week’s final Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D rule, which it aims to codify and expand upon with Congressional legislation.