Pharmacist urges Arizona lawmakers to support PBM Reform Act
- AIPC Rx
- Aug 5
- 1 min read
Author: Teresa Dickinson, RPh
Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Georgia, recently introduced a bill that will have a tremendous impact on Arizona independent pharmacists like myself, as well as the patient community.
The PBM Reform Act is a long-awaited and much-needed piece of legislation that will finally bring some transparency to the pharmacy benefit manager industry.
The bill will, among many things, delink a PBM’s profits from the cost of medications for those on Medicare. Translation: PBMs can no longer increase their profit by increasing the price of the medication.
It will also ban “spread pricing” in Medicaid. Translation: The PBM can no longer charge Medicaid (and taxpayers) a price higher than what the pharmacy is getting paid.
The bill will also require PBM reporting on their spending and rebates and enforce rule violations in the prescription drug market.
These are fairly simple and overdue fixes to an industry that has become rife with problems. It’s probably why in just a few weeks, the bill has gained over 20 co-sponsors, evenly split among Republicans and Democrats.
Since when do both parties agree on anything? With PBMs, they do!
I urge our local Congressmen and women, including those who have spoken about PBM abuse in the past, like Rep. David Schweikert, to sign on to this very important bill.
Comments