ALEXANDRIA, Va. (March 10, 2025) – The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following statement on behalf of CEO B. Douglas Hoey, pharmacist, MBA, in response to the Senate’s failure today to bring PBM reform to the floor for a vote by unanimous consent:
“Another swing and a miss. The Senate had a chance to pass the health care package by unanimous consent. That package included the PBM reforms so many say they support. But they whiffed again.
“There is overwhelming bipartisan support for getting the PBMs under control. Everyone knows they are gaming the system. Everyone knows they are hurting consumers by driving up the cost of prescription drugs. Everyone knows PBMs, the cronies of Big Health Insurance companies, are killing their competition by paying their own pharmacies more than they pay small, community pharmacies. And everyone knows patients are paying more money and losing their local pharmacies. Everyone agrees this must happen, so take the win and do it. Although we are disappointed, we urge Congress to see the copious amount of bipartisan support behind this package and take it to the floor to pass without delay.”
In a surprise move at the end of last week, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) tried to get the Senate to pass the health care package, which includes key PBM reforms, by unanimous consent. However, as of Monday, there has been no activity. Elements of that package were initially included in the last government funding bill, but the package was stripped out at the last minute in December of last year. The version advanced by the Senate includes NCPA’s top priorities: NADAC-plus pricing in Medicaid, which would ensure pharmacies receive a minimum dispensing fee; elimination of spread pricing in state Medicaid managed care programs; and “reasonable and relevant” contract terms in Medicare Part D. Additionally, the package included Medicare Part D delinking and requirements for PBM transparency in commercial plans. Combined, the measures are estimated by the Congressional Budget Office to save federal taxpayers roughly $5 billion.
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