FTC Argues for Mail-order Drugs to Keep Costs Down

According to a report by Lynne Taylor in the PharmaTimes, published in August of 2011, the New York State Assembly has passed the Anti-Mandatory Mail Order Pharmacy Bill (Bill 5502-B). This Bill, “which would allow patients to choose where to buy their prescription drugs would” also have negative consequences according to the Federal Trade Commission: it would “reduce competition, leading to higher costs and, potentially, reduced consumer access to medicines.” The National Community Pharmacists Association wants the bill to become law, but the Federal Trade Commission argues that this law would drive up costs for New Yorkers who need prescriptions, since the bill limits access to cheaper mail-order pharmacies. The FTC believes that mail-order pharmacies provide the consumer choice and competitive costs that can keep drug costs down for patients. This is just one position on the controversial of question of how to reduce prescription drug costs.