And so, another working week will soon draw to a close. Not a moment too soon, yes? This is, you may recall, our treasured signal to daydream about weekend plans. Our agenda, so far, is an open book. Other than checking in on the Pharmalot ancestor, we are still mulling over the possibilities, although we do plan another listening party, where the rotation will likely include this, this, this, this and this. And what about you? With various holidays approaching, this may be an opportunity to plan a get-together — or for those who feel differently — a getaway. You could also boost the economy and visit your local temple of consumption to stock up on a few gifts. Or you could simply curl up with a good e-book or binge-watch by the telly. Well, whatever you do, have a grand time. But be safe. Enjoy, and see you soon. …
What began as an unlikely, diverse alliance — “Make America Healthy Again,” inclusive of everyone from ex-Bernie supporters to vaccine-critical mothers and Joe Rogan listeners — is showing some cracks, STAT tells us. As President-elect Trump and his transition team stack the next administration with officials from different backgrounds, some in MAHA are dissatisfied with his choices to lead health-related agencies. A divide is emerging between the food-and-health-conscious crowd and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s loyal base of people who opposed Covid mandates and challenge the safety of vaccines. While Kennedy has reportedly surrounded himself with a cadre of vaccine critics and is advising Trump on who should lead agencies including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, some in MAHA are perplexed by selections that stray from the core vaccine message.
Two different pharmacy groups filed separate lawsuits accusing GoodRx, the discount drug card aggregator, and the nation’s largest pharmacy benefit managers, of allegedly using anticompetitive practices, including price fixing, to restrain competition. In one lawsuit, the Philadelphia Association of Retail Druggists claimed that CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, Medimpact Healthcare Systems, and Navitus Health Solutions conspired to “share real time pricing data with one another” using GoodRx as a clearinghouse “to avoid paying the reimbursement rates” that pharmacy benefit managers negotiated with pharmacies on behalf of insurers. The other lawsuit was filed by Minnesota Independent Pharmacists, a nonprofit that focuses on educating the public about pharmacy benefit managers. It argued that GoodRx and CVS Caremark, Express Scripts, MedImpact Healthcare, and Navitus Health “agreed to artificially suppress prescription drug reimbursement rates paid to independent pharmacies, and to increase fees charged to pharmacies, on all GoodRx-related transactions. This conspiracy has caused harm to independent pharmacies throughout the United States.”
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