National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) President and CEO Steven C. Anderson issued the below statement today, following the Trump Administration’s announcement of a pharmaceutical website and drug-pricing initiative:

“The President’s announcement reflects the reality that pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) tactics are exploding Americans’ prescription drug costs, and this action is an attempt to strike a blow against the PBMs’ manipulation and self-enrichment in the prescription drug supply chain.

“Importantly, though many of the details have not been released, this critical point must be emphasized: the health and wellness of Americans rely on their pharmacists and pharmacies – the most accessible and among the most trusted healthcare destinations. Americans’ access to their pharmacies, the face of neighborhood healthcare, must not be a casualty in the effort to address the harms that PBMs have inflicted.

“As we have stated and demonstrated, NACDS is committed to working with the Administration and with the Congress to lower healthcare costs and to prevent healthcare from falling out of reach of rural and vulnerable Americans. Comprehensive PBM reform remains a necessity, and it is unthinkable that the broadly-supported reforms that are ready to go in Congress have not yet been enacted. Congress and the Administration must prioritize that now – alongside strategic approaches to enhance Americans’ access to pharmacist-provided services that the American people now expect.”