DeRoyal’s DeBusk urges a focus on rebates, while Brookings' Ginsburg wants a focus on design, not savings per se, as MedPAC discusses restructuring the Part D design to better accommodate current market dynamics. Formal recommendations to Congress may be approved in the spring.

Manufacturers will face the “biggest PBM ever” in price negotiations for pharmacy benefit drugs as a result of the collaboration between the two pharmacy benefit managers.

With rebate reform efforts stalled, insulin manufacturer broadens efforts to lower prices through authorized generics, but PBMs may still like the big rebates they can get on the original brands.