Which of the following is true about the role of PBMs concerning drug prices?

The role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) fundamentally involves negotiating discounts and rebates from pharmaceutical manufacturers on behalf of insurance companies, health plans, and employers. This negotiation process is a key part of their function, as it helps to maintain costs and manage the overall healthcare expenditure related to prescription medications.

When PBMs negotiate discounts, they leverage their market position and the volume of medications they manage, which can lead to significant cost savings for the clients they represent. These negotiated discounts can directly impact the prices that consumers ultimately pay for their medications at the pharmacy counter. Therefore, stating that PBMs negotiate discounts on behalf of clients accurately reflects a primary responsibility and function they fulfill in the pharmaceutical supply chain.

Other options either overstate or misrepresent the role PBMs play in drug pricing. For instance, claiming that PBMs always lower drug prices does not account for all instances where prices may still be high despite negotiations. Stating that PBMs have no influence contradicts the significant role they play in negotiating and managing drug costs. Finally, the assertion that PBMs determine drug prices unilaterally overlooks the collaborative nature of pricing, which involves multiple stakeholders, including manufacturers, healthcare providers, and insurers.