Pharmacists urge Oregon lawmakers to adopt HB 3,212 dash-6 amendment to curb PBM contract practices

Chair (House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care) opened an informational hearing on House Bill 3,212, asking the policy committee to advise the Rules Committee whether the posted amendment should move forward for scribe time.

Pharmacists and owners from independent and critical-access pharmacies told the committee the dash-6 amendment is necessary to preserve in-person pharmacy access across rural and urban Oregon. Amanda Meeker, president of the Oregon State Pharmacy Association, said pharmacists want PBMs to reimburse at or above the true cost of dispensing and argued that prior offers from PBMs—described at one point as a 50¢ increase—are inadequate when the Oregon Health Authority’s cost-to-dispense study shows an average cost near $12 per prescription.

"Their offer relies on codifying into law the maximum allowable cost or MAC pricing model, the very system they control and manipulate," Amanda Meeker said. "If locked into statute, it will force pharmacies to continue eating costs."

John Murray, pharmacist and owner of Murray Drugs, described operating pharmacies across eastern Oregon and…