Report Highlights Alternative Funding Programs, Illegally Sourcing Medications

A recent report by Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP highlights the growing use of Alternative Funding Programs (AFPs) by self-funded employer health plans to reduce prescription drug costs.  These programs often involve illegally sourcing medications from international pharmacies, bypassing FDA regulations risking patient
welfare and efficacy of treatments. A recent case involved a patient receiving a Turkish version of the HIV medication Biktarvy, leading to a lawsuit by Gilead Sciences against the entities facilitating the importation. The report underscores the legal and safety risks associated with AFPs, emphasizing the need for increased oversight
and transparency to protect patient health.  The report can be found here.