First introduced in December 2024, NCPA was proud to endorse the Patients Before Monopolies Act when it was reintroduced yesterday in both chambers of Congress! This bill aims squarely at the conflicts of interest created by vertically integrated PBMs by prohibiting a parent company from owning both a PBM/health insurer and a pharmacy; requiring divestiture of pharmacy assets within one year; establishing strong enforcement; enabling private right of action; and preventing re-consolidation that would recreate the same anticompetitive structure.
“PBMs have a choice — operate as a PBM or operate as a pharmacy, but you can’t have it both ways. Having both functions under one roof is a huge conflict of interest and drives up prescription drug prices. The Patients Before Monopolies Act is critical in supporting patients and independent pharmacies and restoring a free market,” said NCPA CEO Douglas Hoey, thanking Reps. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.), Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Troy Nehls (R-Texas) and in the Senate by Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan), and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) for their leadership. Read Hoey’s full statement.
