The Supreme Court of the United States issued its landmark ruling in Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA), determining whether community pharmacies are protected from abusive payment practices.

The unanimous (8 to 0) decision ruled in favor of the interests of patients and community pharmacies, who have been fighting for years to regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the controversial middlemen that manage prescription drug benefits for health insurers, Medicare Part D drug plans, and large employers. With this ruling, states will have greater authority to protect their local businesses and their patients from PBM overreach.

"This is a historic victory for independent pharmacies and their patients. And it confirms the rights of states to enact reasonable regulations in the name of fair competition and public health," said National Community Pharmacists Association CEO B. Douglas Hoey, pharmacist, MBA.

"This is a great day for pharmacists and their patients," said Scott J. Knoer, executive vice president and CEO of the American Pharmacists Association. "For years, PBMs have threatened the sacrosanct relationship between pharmacists and their patients and have never been forced to answer to any authority for their actions. This opinion redresses that imbalance and returns the power to protect the interests of patients to the states and other local authorities, where it belongs."

"We're excited to see a unanimous decision from the Court on this case – it's truly a best case scenario for patients, pharmacists, and pharmacies," said Rebecca Snead, RPh, NASPA executive vice president and CEO. "Now, it's time to get to work to make sure states have appropriate PBM regulations in place, and continue to work with our members of Congress to do the same for the federal programs."

"Today, Arkansas pharmacists join their colleagues across the country to celebrate a triumphant victory years in the making," said Arkansas Pharmacists Association CEO John Vinson. "The Supreme Court's ruling means that states can finally protect our patients who receive their pharmacy benefits through their employers. This win should increase drug pricing transparency, increase pharmacy access for patients, improve freedom of choice, and improve the healthcare for our citizens both during and after the pandemic."

At issue was the extent to which the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), which regulates private employee benefit plans, preempts the states from regulating the amount that PBMs pay pharmacies to dispense prescription drugs that are covered by an employer-sponsored health plan.

NCPA will continue to monitor the case and provide updates here. There are other important cases working their way through the courts, and there will be lots more legislative activity in Congress and the states on which NCPA will be leading the fight. We need your help, so please consider making a donation to the NCPA Legislative/Legal Defense Fund.

Resources

• Recording of December 15th post-decision overview of the landmark ruling in Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association (PCMA)

• NCPA - Rutledge v. PCMA, No. 18-540 (U.S.): One Pager on Unanimous Decision Reversing Eighth Circuit

• C-SPAN - Rutledge, Attorney General of Arkansas v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association Oral Argument

• NCPA - Rutledge v. PCMA, No. 18-540 (U.S.): One-Pager on Oral Argument

• NCPA's Oct. 5 Facebook Live previewing the oral arguments in Rutledge v. PCMA

• NCPA’s Sept. 29 webinar previewing the oral arguments in Rutledge v. PCMA

• Brief of Arkansas Pharmacists Association, National Community Pharmacists Association, American Pharmacists Association, National Alliance Of State Pharmacy Associations, and Fifty-One Other Pharmacist Associations As Amici Curiae Supporting Petitioner

• Latest Information on Rutledge v. PCMA

• NCPA Analysis of Rutledge v. PCMA

• Rutledge v. PCMA: 15 Years in the Making