The lack of transparency surrounding MAC pricing allows PBMs to pay aggressively low reimbursement to pharmacies while charging significantly higher amounts for the for the same drug to plan sponsors, pocketing this 'spread' at the cost of consumers. The problem with MAC pricing:PBMs use arbitrary and opaque MAC pricing to derive record profits at the expense of independent pharmacies, plan sponsors and most importantly consumers. Maximum Allowable Cost ('MAC'): MAC prices are the upper limits that a pharmacy benefit manager ('PBM') or prescription drug benefit plan will pay a pharmacy for generic drugs and brand name drugs that have generic versions available (multi-source brands).
