Letter to the Editor - Health care budget should address pharmacy benefit managers

Editor,

I was disappointed to hear that the health care focus in President Biden’s 2024 budget proposal is centered around implementing more government price controls and raising taxes on Americans.

Our health care system needs work, but this type of policy should not be at the top of the priority list. Instead, President Biden and others should look into the practices of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs).

PBMs control a majority of the prescription medications people need in Montana and across the country with little to no oversight from our federal agencies. As a result, PBMs have been able to monopolize the market and put their own interests over the customers they serve.

Sen. Tester has even noted numerous times that PBMs provide very little support to the people that they serve, and I wish that President Biden and others would recognize this as well.

As Congress continues to work with President Biden on the legislative agenda for this year, I hope they table raising taxes and focus instead on helping Americans out from the control of PBMs.

Sincerely,

Allan Smith

Havre