Ohio lawmakers seek transparency in drug pricing

For 58 years, Hart Pharmacy has been the neighborhood pharmacy on a Glenway Avenue corner. But as they continue filling prescriptions for loyal customers, the reimbursement for meds is dwindling.  "As these PBMs, as they're called, get bigger and bigger and manage more and more plans, we're seeing lower and lower reimbursements," pharmacist Sarah Priestle said.  PBMs are pharmacy benefits managers. They're middlemen like Express Scripts and CVS Caremark that handle prescription coverage. But the lower reimbursement rates are taking a toll, according to Priestle. "It's hard to keep those medications on the shelf," she said. "It's hard, you know, so when they come in I might not have it. I can't afford to stock that drug anymore." Right now, it could actually be cheaper to pay for drugs out of pocket, versus using insurance. But pharmacies can't tell you that. Some lawmakers in Ohio are looking to change that.  House Bill 479 is currently pending in Columbus. It would require pharmacists to tell patients about lower drug prices.  Ohio is also looking at how CVS Caremark reimburses pharmacists and charges Medicaid. Auditor David Yost issued a statement saying, "When 40 cents of every dollar goes to Medicaid, transparency will create better policy and better decisions."