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Patients, pharmacists press for PBM reform; PBM trade group warns of higher costs
Summary
Multiple patients, independent pharmacists and state pharmacy associations told the committee that PBM practices — spread pricing, steering, and opaque rebate retention — are harming patients and community pharmacies and urged passage of multiple PBM reform bills. PBM representatives and some health plans warned the committee reforms could raise…
BOSTON — Patients, independent pharmacists and pharmacy associations told the Joint Committee on Financial Services that pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are imposing practices that drive patients’ costs up and push independent pharmacies toward closure.
Jody Quinn, a Plymouth resident who has lived with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis for more than 20 years, described repeated PBM delays and denials: "PBM is a powerful middleman in the health care supply chain. They impact patients, providers, and local pharmacies." She urged support for H.1234 and other PBM reform bills that would require rebate pass-through, create a PBM duty of care, and ban spread pricing.
Independent pharmacy advocates and state pharmacy groups pressed the committee for measures they say are necessary to keep pharmacies open. Todd Brown, executive director of the Massachusetts Independent Pharmacists Association, and Dennis Lyons, representing the Massachusetts Independent…
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