Employers Mourn Loss of Drug Data Transparency in Stopgap Bill

Employers are regrouping in the wake of a roller coaster legislative fight that quashed what would have been a landmark win on health care price transparency.

The original stopgap spending bill unveiled by House lawmakers last week included language that would have required extensive data reporting from pharmacy benefit managers and insurance companies to employers around pricing, usage, distribution, and rebates for prescription drugs. Enrollees would also been allowed to request certain claims data.

The bill would also have required PBMs—which manage drug benefits for insurers—to pass through any manufacturer rebates to the health plan.

“If the incoming administration wants ...