WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) President and CEO Mark Merritt issued the following statement today on the recent U.S. House Appropriations Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies subcommittee vote to provide the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Justice Department with $561 million for programs designed to combat fraud, waste, and abuse:

“As coverage expands under the new health reform law, it’s more important than ever to enhance America’s overall program integrity capabilities. The Administration has noted that these kinds of efforts can save almost $10 billion.

“The other side of the anti-fraud coin is that policymakers must reject policies that inadvertently weaken the ability of public and private payers to detect and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse. It’s far easier to prevent fraud than to engage in ‘pay and chase’ activities after the fact.”

PCMA represents the nation’s pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which improve affordability and quality of care through the use of electronic prescribing (e-prescribing), generic alternatives, mail-service pharmacies, and other innovative tools for 210-plus million Americans.

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CONTACT:

Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA)
Charles Coté, 202-207-3605

KEYWORDS:   United States  North America  District of Columbia

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