In a letter to HHS Sec. Xavier Becerra this week, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Reps. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) shared results from an oversight inquiry alleging that large pharmacy chains turn over patients’ medical records to law enforcement without requiring warrants. The lawmakers began the inquiry after the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that repealed Roe v. Wade. They are calling on HHS to improve federal health privacy regulations to better protect Americans’ prescriptions and other health records held by pharmacies, and to conduct follow-up pharmacy privacy policy surveys and publish the findings. Additionally, the Supreme Court on Wednesday announced that it intends to review a ruling by a federal appeals court that would restrict access mifepristone. This is the first time justices will weigh in on the issue of abortion since the Dobbs ruling in 2022. Reports indicate that a decision may come by summer. Independent pharmacy teams are advised to work with their legal counsel should these issues arise. We will share further updates with you in qAM when we have them.
NCPA
