AMA and ASCO release white and brown bagging issue brief
The AMA and Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) released a new issue brief encouraging state medical associations to support legislation that prohibits the mandatory use of white and brown bagging policies.
The issue brief, “Mandatory White Bagging and Brown Bagging Policies Threaten Patient Access to Care,” (PDF) highlights how payer and pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) mandatory white bagging and brown bagging policies disrupt the patient experience and hinder physicians’ ability to deliver timely and consistent high-quality, patient-centered care. While some physicians engage in voluntary white bagging within their health system and have found satisfactory arrangements, the AMA and ASCO oppose its mandatory imposition.
Mandatory white bagging occurs when a specialty pharmacy affiliated with the payer ships a medication directly to the hospital or physician’s office for administration. Brown bagging occurs when a specialty pharmacy ships the medication directly to the patient, who then must bring it to the hospital or physician’s office for administration.
The issue brief defines key terms, provides key messages and also links to recent legislative successes for state medical associations to consider. Only 12 states have banned mandatory white bagging and brown bagging policies. The AMA and ASCO welcome the opportunity to partner with state medical associations to add to that total.
If your state is interested in pursuing legislation to prohibit mandatory white bagging and brown bagging policies, please contact Daniel Blaney-Koen, JD, senior attorney, American Medical Association or Nick Telesco, state advocacy specialist, Association for Clinical Oncology.
For a more detailed understanding of policy on this issue, read the ASCO Position Statement on White Bagging (PDF) and AMA policies opposing mandatory white bagging and brown bagging.
More articles in this issue
- Aug. 1, 2025: Advocacy Update spotlight on pharmacy benefit managers under scrutiny
- Aug. 1, 2025: Medicare Payment Reform Advocacy Update
- Aug. 1, 2025: National Advocacy Update
