Lanton Law Blog — Lanton Law

PBM Lobby Has 8th Circuit Win Vacated & Remanded

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in a February 22, 2021 decision against the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA); the Washington D.C. based trade group that represents pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

healthcare, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, LTC, Long term care pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager, U.S. Supreme Court, specialty pharmacyRon LantonFebruary 24, 2021U.S. Supreme Court, Rutledge v. PCMA, Wilke v. PCMA, pharmacy, ERISA, North Dakota

National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Files Lawsuit Against HHS Seeking to Eliminate Pharmacy DIR Fees

NCPA has sued the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) over DIR fees. The lawsuit can be viewed here.

CMS, healthcare, HHS, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager, prescription drug costs, regulation, lobbyist, legislatureRon LantonJanuary 19, 2021pharmacy, DIR, National Community Pharmacists Association

Lanton Law Quoted in Law360 Article titled "High Court Gives Green Light to Regulate PBMs"

Lanton Law was quoted in law 360’s article titled "High Court Gives Green Light to Regulate PBMs".

healthcare, prescription drug costs, pharmacy benefit manager, pharmacyRon LantonDecember 10, 2020healthcare, PBM, Pharmacy Benefit Manager, U.S. Supreme Court, insurance, Rutledge v. PCMA

Lanton Law quoted in Bloomberg Law Article

We were quoted in Bloomberg Law’s article titled “States Risk Losing Power to Regulate Pharmacy Drug Middlemen” by Lydia Wheeler. The article discusses the pros and cons of Rutledge v. PCMA, which is currently being debated at the Supreme Court.

healthcare, insurance, life sciences, Long term care pharmacy, LTC, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager, prescription drug costs, regulation, CMS, U.S. Supreme CourtRon LantonDecember 8, 2020Rutledge v. PCMA, U.S. Supreme Court

Lanton Law Quoted in Law360 Article Titled "High Court PBM Case Could Be Turning Point In 20-Year Fight"

Lanton Law was again quoted in Law360’s article titled “High Court PBM Case Could Be Turning Point in 20-Year Fight.” The article can be found here.

healthcare, insurance, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager, U.S. Supreme CourtRon LantonDecember 1, 2020Rutledge v. PCMA, PBM, pharmacy, U.S. Supreme Court

Amazon Launches U.S. Pharmacy Business

Many supply chain stakeholders have been fearing whether Amazon would ever open a retail pharmacy business. There have been traces of this occurring for years from its sporadic applications of pharmacy licenses in various states, to its June 2018 $753 million acquisition of PillPak. However; no coherent plan had come into focus until now.

pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager, pharmaceuticals, telemedicine, LTC, Long term care pharmacy, insurance, home infusion, healthcare, government affairsRon LantonNovember 17, 2020Amazon, e-commerce

Lanton Law Follow Up Interview with Law360

Lanton Law had a follow up interview with Law360 regarding the Rutledge v. PCMA Supreme Court oral arguments on October 6, 2020.

healthcare, insurance, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager, U.S. Supreme CourtRon LantonOctober 7, 2020Rutledge v. PCMA

Lanton Law Quoted in Law360 Article on Rutledge v. PCMA

Lanton Law was quoted in Law360’s article titled “High Court to Weight States’ Ability to Rein in Drug Middlemen,” which was written in response to current developments around the Rutledge v. PCMA case.

U.S. Supreme Court, healthcare, pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager, insuranceRon LantonOctober 6, 2020Rutledge v. PCMA

Where Do Biden & Trump Stand On The Issues?

With election season underway many are wondering where the two Presidential candidates stand on the issues of importance to voters.

Reuters did a great summary found here that explains the major differences from the economy, trade, healthcare, etc.

New York Comptroller finds $605 million in unnecessary costs to the Medicaid program

The New York Comptroller recently released the results of an audit titled “Medicaid Program-Cost of Pharmacy Services Under Managed Care.” The audit covered the period January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2019.

healthcare, legislation, Long term care pharmacy, LTC, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager, insuranceRon LantonSeptember 24, 2020New York Medicaid, New York Comptroller, Medicaid, MCO, drug formulary, carve out

Lanton Law Newsletter is Out

We have released our August newsletter.

Congress, government affairs, healthcare, legislation, Long term care pharmacy, LTC, pharmacy benefit manager, prescription drug costsRon LantonAugust 3, 2020LTC, PBM, Pharmacy Benefit Manager, Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development, Rutledge v. PCMA

Lanton Law Speaks with Pharmacy Times about U.S. Supreme Court Case Rutledge v. PCMA & Its Implication on Pharmacy Policy

Lanton Law was interviewed by Pharmacy Times on the implications of the October 6, 2020 U.S. Supreme Court case of Rutledge v. PCMA.

healthcare, government affairs, Medicare Part D, pharmaceuticals, pharmacy, pharmacy benefit manager, prescription drug costs, reimbursement, U.S. Supreme CourtRon LantonJuly 27, 2020Rutledge v. PCMA, U.S. Supreme Court, Kentucky Pharmacy Law, Georgia Pharmacy Law, PBM, Pharmacy Benefit Manager, reimbursement

New Executive Order Aimed at Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)

The White House has released an Executive Order titled “Executive Order on Lowering Prices for Patients by Eliminating Kickbacks to Middlemen.”

reimbursement, prescription drug costs, pharmacy benefit manager, pharmacy, pharmaceuticals, Medicare Part D, insurance, HHS, life sciences, healthcareRon LantonJuly 27, 2020Executive Order on Lowering Prices for Patients by Eliminating Kickbacks to Middlemen, PBM, Pharmacy Benefit Manager, safe harbor, Medicare D, Medicaid, HHS

Update on Closely the Watched U.S. Supreme Court Case of Rutledge v. PCMA

We have been providing occasion updates through our blog on the U.S. Supreme Court case of Rutledge v. PCMA, whose outcome could have wide ranging policy and legal ramifications on pharmacy and pharmacy benefit managers.

CMS, healthcare, pharmacy, pharmacy benefit managerRon LantonJuly 16, 2020Pharmacy Benefit Manager, pharmacy, Rutledge v. PCMA, U.S. Supreme Court

National Association of Insurance Commissioners release PBM Model Legislation Draft

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC) Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) Regulatory Issues Subgroup has released a draft of its model PBM legislation.

healthcare, pharmacy benefit manager, insurance, task forceRon LantonJuly 7, 2020PBM, model legislation, National Association of Insurance Commissioners, State Pharmacy Benefit Manager Licensure and Regulation Act, clawback, PBM affiliate compensation, spread pricing, state insurance commissioner