Breakthrough T1D applauds recent action by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to finalize a settlement with Express Scripts, one of the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBM). Under the settlement, Express Scripts agreed to charge patients the lowest net price for insulin and other medicines rather than higher list prices. This is a critical step toward ensuring that people with type 1 diabetes are not penalized by opaque pricing practices that have driven up costs for years.
We also applaud the bipartisan PBM reforms that Congress included in the recently enacted government funding bill. These provisions effectively end PBM rebate practices, delink PBM compensation from drug list prices, and strengthen reporting requirements to employers and plan sponsors – all changes Breakthrough T1D has long sought.
Taken alongside the FTC’s continued action, these reforms represent meaningful momentum toward fixing a broken system that for too long promoted higher insulin prices for people with diabetes. This progress builds on years of sustained advocacy by Breakthrough T1D to lower the costs of insulin and end the misaligned incentives that reward higher costs for people who rely on insulin to live. Breakthrough T1D will continue working with policymakers, regulators, and stakeholders to ensure that everyone has access to affordable insulin, regardless of their insurance status.
