Pharmacy Benefit Management: Are Reporting Requirements Pro- or Anticompetitive?

The market-based US health care system relies on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to control pharmaceutical costs, in contrast to most other countries that regulate drug prices and access. Optimal strucuturing and regulation of PBM contracts poses significant agency challenges for private and public payers. However, recent reporting requirements for PBMs may be counterproductive and reflect the interests of competitors rather than customers.