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In 2004, the Council of the District of Columbia enacted the AccessRx Act of 2004. Introduced by Councilmember Catania, the legislation provides the District with a variety of measures to ensure affordable access to necessary prescription medications. Specifically: Title I – Establishment of AccessRx Program Title I established the AccessRx Program within the Department of Health and required the Department to utilize manufacturer rebates, pharmacy discounts, and aggregate purchasing to in its efforts to reduce prescription drug costs. Title II – Transparent Business Practices among Pharmacy Benefit ManagersTitle II requires transparent business practices among pharmacy benefit managers (“PBM”) by requiring disclosure of the net cost of purchased drugs and all financial terms and arrangements for remuneration between the PBM and a drug manufacturer or labeler. Though implementation of this title was delayed due to litigation initiated by PhRMA, a trade association that represents pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia recently granted the District summary judgment and held that the PBM industry was precluded from relitigating the issue. As such, Title II is now in effect. Click here for a copy of the opinion. Title III – Disclosure of Marketing CostsTitle III requires a manufacturer or labeler of prescription drugs that utilizes marketing representatives in the District of Columbia to report all marketing costs to the Department of Health. Click here for final DOH rulemaking on Title III. |
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 25 October 2007 )
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