PBMs are able to leverage brand-to-brand competition across a variety of drug classes to lower costs, but that achievement and the presence of me-too drugs is more complicated than what might on its surface look like a clear win for the US health system.

The US Medicare Payment Advisory Commission is finally able to analyze the impact of rebates on actual prescription drug spending – but immediate recommendations may not be viable given the changes coming from implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act.

The US pharmaceutical industry is finally on the right side of the inflation debate, with drug price increases clearly lagging well behind overall consumer price growth. It is, however, probably too late to make a difference in the prospects of price control legislation.