In a recent government meeting, lawmakers emphasized the urgent need to address the consolidation in the pharmaceutical and health care industries, which they argue is driving up costs for consumers. A key speaker highlighted that 90% of all drugs are distributed through just three wholesalers, while 95% of health insurance markets are highly concentrated. This lack of competition, they argued, not only leads to inflated prices but also diminishes transparency in the market.

The discussion underscored the detrimental effects of this consolidation on American consumers, including increased medication costs, difficulties in accessing prescribed drugs, and the potential loss of lives due to unaffordable medications. The speaker pointed out that while there has been significant focus on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) in Congress, the broader issue of market dominance by a few companies has been known for years.

The meeting also referenced past legislative efforts, including the Inflation Reduction Act, which aimed to lower drug costs and expand Medicare benefits, and three bipartisan bills designed to promote competition in drug pricing. Despite these efforts, the speaker criticized the current Republican majority for failing to advance any significant legislation during this Congress.

The session concluded with a call for bipartisan collaboration to diagnose and address the problems associated with market consolidation and to find meaningful solutions that would ultimately benefit American consumers in terms of prescription drug affordability and health care costs. The meeting was characterized by a spirit of cooperation, with participants acknowledging the complexity of the issues at hand and the need for collective action.