December 20, 2022 Dear Governor Hochul: As state and national organizations representing a wide range of U.S. taxpayers and consumers, we write today in opposition to S3081B, which seeks to impose penalties and pricing constraints for charging “an unconscionably excessive price” on any drug or medical product that the FDA has identified as being subject […]
Consumer Tips / Health
New report on Oregon pharmacy reimbursement abuses reaffirms need for industry reforms
A recent report out of Oregon found “significant disparities in reimbursement” between retail pharmacies in the study and all other pharmacy providers, as reported to the Oregon Medicaid program. This month, the Oregon State Pharmacy Association (OSPA), in conjunction with 3 Axis Advisors, released a new report called Understanding Pharmacy Reimbursement Trends in Oregon. The 155-page report describes […]
New OHID report corrects common misconceptions about vaping
In a much-anticipated update from the Office of Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), the British health agency released its eighth and final independent report on the health risks and effects of vaping. A team of researchers at King’s College London produced the landmark report, which was first commissioned in 2015 by Public Health England (PHE) and now by OHID. What they […]
Senator Durbin is right to critique the FDA’s speed and enforcement of ENDS product reviews
Last month, Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) sent a scathing letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on the one year anniversary of a court-ordered deadline for the FDA to finish reviewing e-cigarette applications for Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS) products. The letter highlights several ongoing problems at the federal agency when it comes […]
A flurry of new tobacco rules reveals an aggressive new chapter for the FDA
The last few months have seen a whirlwind of attacks on tobacco users. From an April proposal to ban the popular menthol cigarette flavor and prohibit all cigar flavors other than traditional tobacco to a plan to eliminate nearly all nicotine in conventional cigarettes sold in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) has been busy making a flurry of announcements. However, it was the FDA’s […]
House Bill Expands Telehealth Access
More than a third of Americans live in an area with a shortage of healthcare professionals. For these 122 million people, that shortage can mean longer wait times and delayed access to essential care. For patients living in rural areas, attending in-person health appointments can also require them to pay steep travel costs while sacrificing […]
New ACI Report: Recent Causes of Inflation and Adverse Consequences for Consumers
Consumers agree that the biggest problem facing the United States is inflation, as record price increases have made it harder for families to make ends meet. This report outlines the factors that created an inflationary spiral and what can be done to help lower prices for consumers. The report’s highlights include: Increased government spending and […]
Real Clear Health: FTC May Finally Bring Down the Hammer on PBMs
Amidst rising prescription drug prices, consumers may finally be getting some much-needed relief if the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) follows through with a recent pledge to investigate Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) for anticompetitive practices. You can read this commentary in Real Clear Health.
Study Links PBMs to Medicine Overpayments
Much has been written about the role Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) play in driving up the cost of prescription brand named drugs. However, far less has been written about how PBMs current business practices lead U.S. consumers, employers, and the government to pay too much for what should be low-cost drugs. Now a new paper, […]
How to Report Unwanted Spam Texts
With spam text messages on the rise and scammers increasing utilizing them for elaborate schemes, consumers should know how to report them. Unwanted text messages have increased in recent years, but Americans don’t know there has been a simple-to-use service available to report messages. Most major carriers, including AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon, each allow consumers […]