WASHINGTON 鈥� The Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA) endorses Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.鈥檚 for nationwide Real-Time Pharmacy Benefit Technology (RTBT). In response to the Secretary鈥檚 statement, David Marin, PCMA President and CEO, issued the following statement:
鈥淭his is how we can empower patients with greater transparency and control over their health care decisions. PCMA strongly supports real-time benefit tools, which not only provide visibility for patients but ensure providers consider the cost associated with therapeutically-equivalent medications. This system will also significantly speed up the prior authorization process so that coverage questions can be resolved instantly. We commend Secretary Kennedy for making this technology a priority.
鈥淚n 2026, there is no excuse for a system that allows patients to leave a doctor鈥檚 office without knowing whether a prescription is covered or what it will cost. It鈥檚 time to remove the remaining barriers to consistent and widespread RTBT use and put affordability front and center. PBMs have already invested heavily in these system and are eager to work with providers as they fully adopt these tools to unlock a better patient experience.鈥�
