ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 3, 2023) – The National Community Pharmacists Association is cheering the bipartisan Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act (S. 1038), introduced by Sens. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), which would improve transparency and protect taxpayers by preventing pharmacy benefit managers from using spread pricing in Medicaid managed care programs. Companion legislation (H.R. 1613) was introduced in the House by Reps. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas), Rick Allen (R-Ga.), Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), and Deborah Ross (D-N.C.).
“Stopping PBMs from abusing taxpayer dollars through harmful spread pricing and underwater reimbursements for pharmacies is a priority of NCPA’s. We’re glad to see it’s increasingly a priority among members of Congress,” said NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey, pharmacist, MBA. “We thank Sens. Welch and Marshall for introducing this bill and are eager to continue working together to move toward a fairer system for pharmacies and for patients.”
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Founded in 1898, the National Community Pharmacists Association is the voice for the community pharmacist, representing over 19,400 pharmacies that employ nearly 240,000 individuals nationwide. Community pharmacies are rooted in the communities where they are located and are among America’s most accessible health care providers. To learn more, visit www.ncpa.org.
