Kasia Mulligan, the national spokesperson for Patients Come First, has called on Congress to pass comprehensive pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform. The goal is to increase transparency and ensure that savings are directed towards enhancing patient access. Mulligan's statement was made in an opinion piece published by InsideSources.
"Instead of imposing destructive price control policies, policymakers should instead focus on reining in the Pharmacy Benefit Manager industry," said Mulligan. "PBMs are monopolistic middlemen that make healthcare more expensive and less accessible to patients. At a time when lawmakers look to cut waste, fraud and abuse from government health programs, putting an end to PBM spread pricing should be at the top of the agenda. Americans deserve a system that prioritizes patients first, not pharmacy middlemen."
The 340B Drug Pricing Program, established by Congress in 1992, aims to help healthcare entities stretch federal resources and provide more comprehensive services. Over the years, the program has expanded significantly, with an increase in both covered entities and contract pharmacies. Policymakers have expressed concerns about transparency and whether the program’s benefits are reaching the intended low-income patient populations.
A study published in 2023 in Health Services Research and Managerial Epidemiology found no statistically significant improvements in mortality rates for low-income patients participating in the 340B program. The analysis examined outcomes across multiple health systems and questioned the program’s effectiveness in achieving its public health goals. The study concluded that financial incentives alone might not be sufficient to improve health outcomes.
According to a 2024 report from the House Oversight Committee, PBMs employ complex pricing practices that can distort market competition and inflate costs for patients. The report detailed how PBMs profit from spread pricing, rebate arrangements, and steering prescriptions to their affiliated pharmacies. These practices have contributed to reduced access for small and independent pharmacies.
Mulligan brings experience in strategic communications and policy reform to Patients Come First. She has worked in both public and private sectors, previously serving as communications director and national spokesperson in the U.S. Senate. Her expertise in policy development and advocacy positions her as a key voice for patient-focused healthcare reform.
