Health insurers' lists of covered drugs have gotten tighter. Darwin Brandis/Getty Images/iStockphoto hide caption
PBMs
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, pressed executives from Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck and Johnson & Johnson about the prices they charge for drugs in the U.S. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images hide caption
Pharmacy benefit managers are middlemen who work with drug companies and insurers, helping set the retail prices for prescription drugs Americans rely on for their health. They're now the subject of a number of new bills in Congress. Robert F. Bukaty/AP hide caption
The Trump administration has suggested buying a prescription drug is like buying a car — with plenty of room to negotiate down from the sticker price. But drug pricing analysts say the analogy doesn't work. tomeng/Getty Images hide caption
How Does Drug Pricing Work? Hint: It's More Like Designer Handbags Than Cars
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, will lead the Senate Finance Committee's questioning Tuesday of executives from pharmacy benefit managers about drug costs. Win McNamee/Getty Images hide caption
Health insurer Cigna is looking to increase its muscle by buying Express Scripts, a leading manager of prescription benefits. Wilfredo Lee/AP hide caption
CVS Health has struck a deal to buy Aetna, the insurance giant. The combined companies would have more clout with drugmakers and would aim to bring more health care to consumers in retail clinics. Gene J. Puskar/AP hide caption
Kaiser Health News explores the role of pharmacy benefit managers in pricing drugs. Kaiser Health News hide caption
Indianapolis-based Anthem wants Express Scripts to cough up more of the rebates it gets from drugmakers. Michael Conroy/AP hide caption
Maryland pharmacist Narender Dhallan often has to decide whether to fill a prescription and lose money or send a customer to another store. Cindy Carpien for NPR hide caption