Cheaper generic alternatives to brand-name drugs are supposed to save consumers and the healthcare system money.  But a new USC Schaeffer Center white paper highlights tactics used by intermediaries in the pharmaceutical distribution system — including pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and insurers — that are making what should be inexpensive medicines too costly for the people that need them. This gap in cost-saving measures is also taking a toll on employers and the government worth billions of dollars, adding substantially to the overall price of health care in the United States.

To continue reading this story, click here.