Benham disputes findings of PBM audit, accuses auditor general of acting in bad faith

“I dispute the findings of the Auditor General’s audit because they are rooted in a lack of understanding of key terms. Had the Auditor General engaged with me at any point on the issue of Pharmacy Benefits Managers, an issue I’ve been working on for quite some time, he would perhaps have a better grasp of the issues."

Health    August 28, 2024 | 12:56 PM

HARRISBURG, Aug. 28 – In response to state Auditor General Timothy L. DeFoor’s latest audit being announced this afternoon, state Rep. Jessica Benham released the following statement:

“I dispute the findings of the Auditor General’s audit because they are rooted in a lack of understanding of key terms. Had the Auditor General engaged with me at any point on the issue of Pharmacy Benefits Managers, an issue I’ve been working on for quite some time, he would perhaps have a better grasp of the issues.

“This audit appears to view ‘spread pricing’ and ‘transmission fees’ as synonymous and uses this as the foundation for its conclusions. However, these are not the same, and as prime sponsor of the most significant PBM reform law in the Commonwealth’s history, I would know.

“Spread pricing has been banned in DHS contracts since 2019. And, in response to concerns already raised by pharmacists, DHS will be banning transmission fees starting in 2025.

“In my original legislation, I proposed banning spread pricing entirely, but this was amended out of the legislation by the Senate Republicans. Perhaps the Auditor General should have conversations with members of his own party, both so they can help him understand what ‘spread pricing’ is and so they can get on the same page with banning it.

“This audit is deeply unserious and misleading. PBM reform is a significant issue, one we have taken a big step to address, and the Auditor General’s problematic approach here detracts from the significance with which we should treat the problem of PBMs.

“As I have throughout my work on now Act 77 of 2024, I welcome the Auditor General to engage in good faith to help tackle the abuses of PBMs. Instead, he has weaponized this problem to attack an administration that has been beyond proactive, while at the same time, he has attempted to take credit for the work other elected officials have done.”