F.T.C. Settles With Express Scripts Over High Insulin Prices
F.T.C. Settles With Express Scripts Over High Insulin Prices
The Trump administration announced that the company, a pharmacy benefit manager, had agreed to make significant changes to its practices.
Read the full article on NY Times Politics
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article is mostly accurate, reporting on the FTC settlement with Express Scripts regarding insulin pricing. The article's claim that the Trump administration announced the settlement is potentially misleading, as the FTC is an independent agency, though the administration may have commented on it. The article exhibits minimal bias, presenting the information in a relatively objective manner.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim: The FTC settled with Express Scripts over high insulin prices.
- Verification Source #1: Confirms the FTC secured a settlement with Express Scripts to lower drug costs.
- Verification Source #2: Confirms Cigna Corp's Express Scripts settled the FTC's claims regarding insulin pricing.
- Verification Source #4: Confirms Express Scripts was considering a settlement in the FTC insulin price lawsuit.
- Assessment: Supported
- Claim: The Trump administration announced that the company, a pharmacy benefit manager, had agreed to make significant changes to its practices.
- Verification Source #1: Does not mention the Trump administration's involvement in the announcement. The FTC announced the settlement.
- Verification Source #2: Does not mention the Trump administration's involvement in the announcement. Reuters reports on the settlement.
- Assessment: Potentially misleading. While the Trump administration may have commented, the FTC, an independent agency, secured and announced the settlement.
- Claim: Express Scripts steered patients toward higher priced insulin to bring in larger rebates from drug manufacturers.
- Verification Source #4: Confirms that Express Scripts steered patients toward higher-priced insulin to bring in larger rebates.
- Verification Source #3: The FTC alleges that PBMs prioritized high list price, highly rebated insulins.
- Assessment: Supported
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Source 1: "FTC Secures Landmark Settlement with Express Scripts to Lower Drug Costs for American Patients"
- Source 2: "Cigna settles FTC insulin case, aims to lower drug prices"
- Source 4: "...steered patients toward higher priced insulin to bring in larger rebates from drug manufacturers."