States Take Center Stage in the Drug Pricing Fight

In this episode of the Pharmaceutical Executive podcast, Scott LaGanga, executive vice president of state advocacy at PhRMA, discusses the expanding influence of state policymaking on drug pricing, pharmacy benefit manager reform, and efforts to translate policy changes into lower out-of-pocket costs for patients. Joining Mike Christel, group managing editor , MJH Life Sciences, LaGanga also dives into the potential impact of tomorrow's U.S. midterm elections in shaping the next wave of drug pricing policy in state capitals as much as in Washington. Noting the high stakes, LaGanga explains why turnover in governors’ offices and state legislatures puts fresh urgency on educating policymakers about the pharmaceutical supply chain — and how decisions in states can move quickly and spread across the country. He also considers how the presidential campaign cycle that follows could bring local health care access and affordability concerns further into the national debate.