Governor Hochul Announces New Watchdog Bureau to Tackle Prescription Drug Costs
New Pharmacy Benefits Bureau to Supervise Unregulated Pharmacy Benefit Manager Industry
Directs the Department of Financial Services to Establish Standards to Protect Consumers and Independent Small Businesses
Pharmacy Benefit Managers Required to Register with New Bureau by June 1st and Submit Annual Report by July 1st
Guidance on PBM Registration and Reporting now available on the DFS website
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced the first-in-the-nation approach to bring much needed oversight to Pharmacy Benefit Managers with the creation of the Department of Financial Services’ Pharmacy Benefits Bureau. Pharmacy Benefit Managers are key intermediaries in the prescription drug supply chain that have, without regulatory oversight, long controlled the price of drugs for health plans and reimbursement rates for pharmacies. The new bureau will be tasked with licensing and supervising the industry, keeping a watchful eye on Pharmacy Benefit Managers’ impact on consumers and the cost of health care.
“As we continue our comeback from the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s crucial that we take every opportunity to improve the health care system and reduce costs for New Yorkers,” Governor Hochul said. “This landmark regulatory body will provide careful oversight to protect consumers from predatory practices in the largely unregulated Pharmacy Benefits Managers industry. My administration remains committed to doing everything in its power to reduce the burden of health insurance and prescription drug costs on New Yorkers.”
Earlier this year, Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law the most comprehensive regulatory regime for Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in the country, assigning DFS new authority to license and supervise the industry. DFS now has the power to address the widely reported problematic practices in the PBM industry which in turn will help lower drug and health insurance costs, protect New Yorkers accessing those drugs, and support New York’s pharmacies, many of which are independent small businesses.
Additionally, with the passage of the enacted 2023 State Budget, Governor Hochul secured a $5 million appropriation to fund and staff the new bureau. As the program fully develops, costs to administer this initiative will be offset through the application of fees, assessments, and penalties directly on the PBM industry, ensuring the cost of regulating this industry will fall on the PBMs, not on the taxpayers.
In addition to the regulation of PBMs, DFS’ existing authority to investigate drug price spikes now falls under the supervision of the new Pharmacy Benefits Bureau. DFS will continue to review reporting, monitor the market conduct and ensure proper enforcement of consumer protections in New York.
Superintendent of Financial Services Adrienne A. Harris said, “The health and wellness of New Yorkers depends on having access to fairly priced prescription drugs. With regulatory oversight of the Pharmacy Benefits Industry, DFS will increase transparency and accountability across the industry, ultimately putting more money in New Yorkers’ pockets.”
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett said, “Rising prescription drug prices not only increase the cost of healthcare for all New Yorkers, but place a particular burden on the elderly and exacerbate the systemic inequities in healthcare delivery. DOH and DFS will work in concert to promote transparency, preserve access, and curb the rising cost of prescription drug prices for the most vulnerable.”
State Senator Neil D. Breslin said, “The PBM industry had gone unregulated for long enough. PBMs, both here in New York and across the country, have been taking advantage of the lack of transparency at the expense of patients’ well-being. I applaud Governor Hochul, Superintendent Harris and Commissioner Bassett for moving the regulatory process forward ensuring that PBMs are held to a standard of excellence.”
Assemblymember Richard Gottfried said, “PBMs are widely recognized as major players in driving up drug costs while profiteering at the expense of patients and pharmacists. They’ve been a black box operating in secret without effective regulation, and PBM mistreatment of independent pharmacists is getting worse as health plans merge with chain pharmacies. This law will provide effective regulation of PBMs and I commend the Governor, Commissioner Bassett and Superintendent Harris for moving forward with timely implementation.”
DFS has met with external stakeholders in preparation for the registration deadlines. DFS reminds all PBMs of their requirement to register with the Bureau by June 1, 2022 and to submit their first annual report by July 1, 2022. The bureau has releases guidance on both registration and the annual report on the DFS website.
DFS will soon file regulatory amendments reflecting the creation of this Bureau. More information will be available in the State Register.
