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Patients and pharmacists press for PBM reform and rebate transparency; industry urges caution
Summary
Patients, pharmacists and health‑care advocates urged the committee to pass PBM reform laws to pass rebates through to patients, ban spread pricing and create a duty of care; trade groups and PBM representatives warned the changes could raise costs and urged the legislature to wait for state studies.
Patients with chronic and life‑threatening conditions, community pharmacists and health‑care advocates testified that reforms to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are needed so negotiated rebates and discounts reach patients at the point of sale.
"PBMs are powerful middlemen in the health care supply chain. They impact patients, providers, and local pharmacies," said Jody Quinn, a Plymouth resident living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, who described repeated denials and delays that she said caused pain and permanent joint damage.
Proposals before the committee — including House Bill 1234 and companion measures — would require PBMs to pass a large share of rebates directly to patients at the pharmacy counter, ban spread pricing, establish a duty of care for PBMs and increase auditing and contract transparency.…
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