# Pharmacy Benefit Managers on The No Agenda Show Pharmacy Benefit Managers comes up in 5 chapters across 5 episodes of The No Agenda Show, from July 2020 to May 2025. - **Chapters:** 5 - **Episodes:** 5 - **Discussed:** July 2020 – May 2025 - **Related topics:** [Bernie Sanders](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/bernie-sanders.md), [Donald Trump](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/donald-trump.md), [Drug Prices](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/drug-prices.md), [Healthcare](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/healthcare.md), [Healthcare Costs](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/healthcare-costs.md), [Humira](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/humira.md), [Jillian Michaels](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/jillian-michaels.md), [Medicare](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/medicare.md), [Medicare Fraud](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/medicare-fraud.md), [Novo Nordisk](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/novo-nordisk.md) ## Chapters 1–5 of 5 ### Trump Executive Order on Drug Pricing and Most Favored Nation Status - **Episode:** [1764: Rage Quit](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1764-rage-quit.md) - **Published:** 2025-05-15 - **Time:** 1:54:01–2:00:28 - **Transcript:** https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1764-rage-quit/chapter/trump-executive-order-on-drug-pricing-and-most-favored-nation-status.md President Trump signed an executive order aimed at slashing prescription drug costs by implementing "most favored nation" pricing. The order targets the "scam" of pharmacy benefit managers and insurance middlemen who inflate prices in the U.S. compared to international markets. Trump shared an anecdote about a billionaire friend paying $1,300 for a "fat shot" in New York that cost only $88 in London. Keywords: [donald trump](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/donald-trump.md), [prescription drugs](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/prescription-drugs.md), [pharmacy benefit managers](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/pharmacy-benefit-managers.md), [medicare](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/medicare.md), bobby v. upp ### Insurance Watchdog Coalition Criticizes UnitedHealth Monopoly - **Episode:** [1718: On The Fritz](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1718-on-the-fritz.md) - **Published:** 2024-12-05 - **Time:** 8:21–12:28 - **Transcript:** https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1718-on-the-fritz/chapter/insurance-watchdog-coalition-criticizes-unitedhealth-monopoly.md The Insurance Watchdog Coalition characterizes UnitedHealth as a vertical monopoly that controls every stage of patient care through its subsidiary, Optum. By employing 90,000 physicians and operating as a dominant pharmacy benefit manager, the company is accused of negotiating drug prices with itself to maximize profits. This structure allows the conglomerate to manage insurance claims while simultaneously owning the clinics and pharmacies providing the services. Keywords: [optum](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/optum.md), vertical monopoly, pharmacy benefit manager, [healthcare costs](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/healthcare-costs.md), insurance watchdog ### Ozempic Pricing Hearing and Pharmacy Benefit Managers - **Episode:** [1698: Oxymoronic](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1698-oxymoronic.md) - **Published:** 2024-09-26 - **Time:** 1:02:17–1:05:48 - **Transcript:** https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1698-oxymoronic/chapter/ozempic-pricing-hearing-and-pharmacy-benefit-managers.md The CEO of Novo Nordisk faced questioning from U.S. Senators regarding why Ozempic costs nearly $1,000 in the U.S. compared to significantly lower prices in Europe and Canada. The drugmaker blamed Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) for inflating costs through complex rebate systems. Fitness expert Jillian Michaels also testified at a related hearing, criticizing the long-term health implications and marketing of weight-loss drugs. Keywords: [ozempic](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/ozempic.md), [novo nordisk](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/novo-nordisk.md), [pharmacy benefit managers](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/pharmacy-benefit-managers.md), [bernie sanders](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/bernie-sanders.md), [jillian michaels](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/jillian-michaels.md) ### Pharmacy Benefit Managers Grilled in Congress - **Episode:** [1680: Seismic Sundae](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1680-seismic-sundae.md) - **Published:** 2024-07-25 - **Time:** 2:15:13–2:17:18 - **Transcript:** https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1680-seismic-sundae/chapter/pharmacy-benefit-managers-grilled-in-congress.md Executives from the three largest Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)—CVS Caremark, Cigna Express Scripts, and UnitedHealth Optum—faced a bipartisan grilling in Congress. They are accused of inflating drug costs and squeezing independent pharmacies. Representative Ro Khanna cited a case of a child denied arthritis medication for six months due to PBM bureaucracy, while executives claimed they saved clients $64 billion. Keywords: pbms, [pharmacy benefit managers](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/pharmacy-benefit-managers.md), [drug prices](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/drug-prices.md), [ro khanna](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/ro-khanna.md), [humira](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/humira.md), [healthcare](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/healthcare.md) ### Pharmacy Benefit Managers and the "Middleman" Drug Scam - **Episode:** [1263: Flibbertigibbet](https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1263-flibbertigibbet.md) - **Published:** 2020-07-26 - **Time:** 59:47–1:10:29 - **Transcript:** https://search.noagendashow.net/episode/1263-flibbertigibbet/chapter/pharmacy-benefit-managers-and-the-middleman-drug-scam.md The role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) is identified as a primary driver of high drug costs through "spread pricing" and rebate scams. These middlemen allegedly inflate the price of generic drugs and pocket the difference, which President Trump's new executive orders seek to eliminate by mandating that rebates go directly to consumers. Keywords: [pharmacy benefit managers](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/pharmacy-benefit-managers.md), [pbm](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/pbm.md), [medicare fraud](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/medicare-fraud.md), express scripts, [rebates](https://search.noagendashow.net/topic/rebates.md) --- This is the markdown version of a page on The No Agenda Show for AI agents. 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