Legislators say PBM practices, AMA-style reforms are a focus as hometown pharmacies struggle
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Summary
Speakers at the Alba forum described pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) as a major factor squeezing local, independent pharmacists and said both federal and state reforms are being pursued to increase transparency and fair competition.
At Alba’s Community Coffee, legislators and attendees described pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) as a key pressure on local pharmacies and outlined reform efforts.
Speaker 5 and Speaker 2 discussed PBMs’ market role, saying PBMs act as middlemen that both route claims and compete with independent pharmacies. “They are your insurance provider, the supplier of the drug, and they’re also your competitor in the marketplace,” Speaker 5 said, explaining how PBMs can lead to unfair reimbursements and back-end charges that squeeze small pharmacies.
Speakers noted both federal (Senator-led) and state-level bills to add transparency and oversight, and Speaker 2 said a state bill and a federal effort could give regulators more authority to force PBMs to disclose pricing and rebates, which they said could help hometown pharmacies remain viable.
No specific contract awards or votes were taken at the forum. Legislators urged local business owners to engage with policymakers and monitor committee hearings on PBM reform.