The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following statement on behalf of CEO B. Douglas Hoey reacting to the new short-term spending package, which funds the government until March 14, 2025, and does not include PBM reform:
"This is a clear miss by Congress, and we are extremely disappointed. PBM reform would rein in the big health insurance lobby, save taxpayers $5 billion, and throw a lifeline to the thousands of small, family-owned pharmacies that are on the brink of closure. While Congress stripped down the package to avert a government shutdown, they left meaningful reform out in the cold. This omission affected not just independent pharmacy—scores of productive legislative proposals in the health care space that were included in the original package were left out, ensuring that this bill only extended expiring programs through March 14.
"PBM reform is supported by majorities in both parties, by outgoing President Biden, and by incoming President-elect Trump. It may be the only issue in Washington that they agree on. Every day they delay reform, another small pharmacy will close, or be pushed closer to edge, because of the business practices of big health insurers and their PBM henchmen.
"We strongly encourage our many champions in Congress to make PBM reform an immediate priority. We encourage them to pass the health provisions as a standalone bill, so they don't get buried under another mountain of spending provisions that can't pass. They should do this as soon as possible in 2025. More small pharmacies will close, pharmacy deserts will grow, drug prices will continue to spiral upward, and more patients will lose access to the prescriptions their doctor prescribed and to their most accessible health care provider, the local pharmacist."
