By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The big “pharmacy benefit managers” like Express Scripts and CVS Caremark have almost 100 percent of the market already.

Chad Worz told an Illinois House health care committee he is frustrated.

“A recent FTC report shows the abuses and powers of PBM’s is a national challenge. It accurately depicts that the federal government has done nothing to prevent the current situation, so it’s fallen to state leaders like you to protect Illinois families and small businesses,” said Worz, executive director of the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists. “The report echoes the same lack of transparency found in the auditor general’s report of May 2023.”

State Rep. Natalie Manley (D-Joliet), who chairs the Health Care Affordability and Accessibility Committee, says a few players have a lot of influence.

“It’s like David fighting Goliath. When you’re looking at the small pharmacies, and if it’s a ‘take it or leave it’ thing and not any consideration, there is a point where you get really concerned that people might be a little drunk with power.”

That Federal Trade Commission report says the big companies are especially dominant in the specialty field.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].