Last week was a good week for PBM reform advocates, with the news of the passage of reasonable and relevant contract terms in Medicare Part D and the FTC-Express Scripts settlement. It's important not to forget our previous wins, too — so in this month's issue of America's Pharmacist®, we're looking back at the Supreme Court case Rutledge v. PCMA, one of the biggest changes to state regulation of PBMs we've ever seen.
We recap a conversation hosted by Matt Seiler, NCPA vice president and general counsel, with Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Nicholas Bronni (who was Arkansas solicitor general during Rutledge); Rob Smith, a partner at Katten Law, Washington D.C. (which provided legal support during Rutledge); and John Vinson, the Arkansas Pharmacists Association's executive director. In their talk, they cover the circumstances around Arkansas' victory and what has happened in the states since.
Also in this issue:
- A package of stories on the importance of insurance, whether it's for your business or your patients. On the business side, a good insurance policy can help you weather any storm (literal or figurative.) On the patient care side, adding an insurance agent to your staff allows you to keep hold of your loyal patients who face changes in their coverage.
- A profile of Colonial Pharmacy in New London, N.H., a business that has served its community for nearly six decades.
- An article by Jeff Kircher, RPh, on the various paths open to pharmacy students as they consider different career options after graduation.
- A column by Ben Jolley, PharmD, on technology's role in reconciling PBM billings.
