Maybe it’s summer, maybe it’s an existential crisis but none of the news of late feels all that important.

Not on my bingo card. This week the Federal Trade Commission released an interim report on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). It was a takedown of the industry but that’s just words, not action. Unless it isn’t. The Wall Street Journal and others are reporting that the FTC will be filing a lawsuit against some of the PBMs later this month. Add in that some congressional offices are circulating PBM legislation and we’ve still got a ball game.

Legal vs. Reality. Another court rules that the participation in the Medicare pricing negotiations is “voluntary” because the drugmaker “was free to withdraw from Medicare and Medicaid before the deadline for signing the manufacturer agreement.” Sure I guess from a legal perspective but run that logic by a shareholder.

While I was out. The Wall Street Journal wrote about how mail order benefits can be higher than what pharmacies charge. Sometimes 35 times more.

SCOTUS on a roll. The Chevron decision throws shade on regulators. I feel their pain. Legislation never covers all the possibilities and regulators are subject matter experts doing their best. More pressure on legislators for sure, some advice from the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Food for thought. Maybe consider anti-obesity medicines as preventive.

Well sure. The Kaiser Family Foundation released an issue brief on health insurer financial performance and SURPRISE – Medicare Advantage plans are doing very well.

It ain’t fun but it is important. PhRMA is launching an educational campaign on America’s intellectual property system. The least sexy topic ever (behind clowns.) \ If you want post-approval indications and generics … IP is important.