Drug benefit managers unveil ads to explain what they do

The trade group for pharmaceutical benefit managers announced an advertising campaign about PBMs, while Congress and federal regulators weigh a $29 billion merger between Express Scripts and Medco.

The Hill: Pharmacy Benefit Managers Launch A New Ad Campaign
Pharmacy benefit managers are launching a new ad campaign as Congress weighs a controversial merger between two of the industry's biggest players. Several lawmakers have raised questions about the proposed merger between Express Scripts and Medco, which would further consolidate the already shrinking competition among firms that manage prescription drug benefits (Baker, 1/17).

National Journal: PCMA New Ads Explain 'What PBMs Do'
The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association is out with a new ad campaign that highlights how pharmacy benefit managers help keep pharmacy costs down and reduce pharmacy errors. A PCMA official would not release the cost of the campaign. The ads -- featuring the tagline "That's what PBMs do" -- will run in Beltway publications and on political news websites. PCMA also released a video about what PBMs do and how they affect consumers (Joseph, 1/17).

CQ HealthBeat: Benefit Managers Use Ads To Explain What They Do
The trade group for pharmaceutical benefit managers on Tuesday announced it has launched an advertising campaign, while federal regulators consider a $29 billion merger between two of the industry's giant companies. The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association said the print and online ad campaign is meant to explain what benefit managers do and how they reduce costs for employers, unions and consumers. The campaign is titled "That's What PBMs Do," and it asserts that benefit managers will save more than $1 trillion over the coming decade (1/17).