After PBM reform provisions were excluded from budget reconciliation negotiations in June due to a Senate parliamentarian ruling, a bipartisan group of legislators has introduced a new bill as the House of Representatives' comprehensive PBM reform package. The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) issued a statement on behalf of CEO B. Douglas Hoey regarding the introduction of the PBM Reform Act.
"As PBMs continue manipulating drug pricing, extinguishing their competition, and raking in massive profits, patients and pharmacies are suffering," said Hoey. "We need help, and we need it quickly. Systemic changes like those in the PBM Reform Act must pass and be enacted as soon as possible. We’re grateful for this bill’s introduction and will do everything we can to push it across the finish line."
The PBM Reform Act incorporates reforms from last year's Continuing Resolution package: the Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act, banning spread pricing in Medicaid; the Protecting Patients Against PBM Abuses Act, establishing new requirements for Medicare Part D; the PBM Accountability Act, promoting price transparency for employer health plans; and the NO PBMs Act, requiring CMS to enforce contract terms between PBMs/insurers and pharmacies.
The legislation was introduced by Reps. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.), Greg Murphy (R-N.C.), Deborah Ross (D-N.C.), Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Rick Allen (R-Ga.), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), John Rose (R-Tenn.), Derek Tran (D-Calif.), and Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.).
Founded in 1898, NCPA represents over 18,900 pharmacies employing more than 205,000 individuals nationwide. Community pharmacies are key healthcare providers within their communities.
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