FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 21, 2022
CONTACT:
media@patientpocketprotector.org
Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC) Spearheads Patient Pocket Protector Coalition to Lower Drug Costs and Advocate for PBM Reform
WASHINGTON – The Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition (DPAC) announced its commitment to lower drug prices at the point of sale for patients across the United States through pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) rebate reform. To accomplish this goal, DPAC is leveraging the Patient Pocket Protector Coalition (PPPC), an alliance of patient and professional advocacy groups formed by DPAC in March 2022.
With a united voice, policy insight, and actionable engagement, PPPC is sharply focused on protecting pockets of patients burdened with the high cost of managing their health every day by working with state legislators to introduce patient-first policies, beginning with those addressing PBM rebate reform. PPPC will hold legislators accountable for easing the financial burdens of the 133 million Americans living with chronic illness.
“People with diabetes know all too well the struggle to afford lifesaving and life sustaining medications every single day. We have a responsibility to the chronic disease community to provide immediate and actionable solutions for all. Leading this coalition of partner organizations is one way that we can raise our voices together to advocate for our neighbors who need it most. We want less talk and more action from lawmakers at every level,” Erin Callahan, PPPC Director said. “The state of West Virginia has demonstrated leadership on this critical issue, showing there is a pathway for success. I thank our member organizations and welcome any others who wish to join the effort to protect patients’ pockets from the growing cost of prescription drugs.”
According to the CDC, chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability, driving $3.8 trillion in annual health care costs (18% of the GDP). Ultimately, people living with chronic diseases not only bear the burden of daily illness management, but also predatory medical costs. Those living with diabetes perpetually pay higher costs to live – $9,600 annually – which continues to be exacerbated by inflated prescription drug costs due to rebate practices that favor pharmacy benefit managers and insurers over patients.
PPPC’s Core Legislative Principles:
- A minimum of 80 percent of rebates and discounts must be passed through to patients at the point of sale
- All copays that are a percentage of price must be calculated based on the price net of rebates and discounts
- Civil penalty per violation to be levied by the state department of insurance or other entity for noncompliance by an insurer
The coalition membership is comprised of:
- Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP)
- Association of Women in Rheumatology
- Autoimmune Association
- Children with Diabetes (CWD)
- Chronic Disease Coalition
- Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations (CSRO)
- College Diabetes Network
- Community Oncology Alliance (COA)
- DiabetesSisters
- Diabetes Leadership Council
- Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition
- National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA)
- Patients Rising Now
- PBM Accountability Project
- The diaTribe Foundation
- U.S. Pain Foundation
- AIDS Connecticut
- Lower Out-of-Pockets NOW (LOOP)
- National Alliance on Mental Illness Oklahoma
- Patients Rising NOW
- Mental Health America of Virginia
- Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation
About the PPPC:
PPPC is a diverse group of chronic illness advocacy groups and stakeholders that is focused on addressing Pharmacy Benefit manager (PBM) rebate reform to protect the pockets of patients burdened with the high cost of managing their health every day. Membership is open to any advocacy group looking to lower costs for Americans living with chronic illness.