A couple of states are adding capacity and expertise to their departments of insurance to regulate PBMs following the enactment of strong pharmacy benefit manager reform laws.
The Alabama Department of Insurance recently hired Thomas McCarthy as senior PBM regulatory counsel for its PBM Compliance Division. This addition builds upon the hiring of Kelli Littlejohn Newman to lead the division. Similarly, the Louisiana Department of Insurance is currently looking to fill a pharmacist chief compliance officer position and a pharmacist compliance officer position to oversee PBMs.
NCPA strongly advocates for enforcement of PBM regulation, both at the regulator level at the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and by urging of members to submit complaints to their departments of insurance. NCPA also believes it is a best practice for departments of insurance to hire pharmacists to serve in these roles, as they are uniquely qualified to understand reimbursement and the harmful business practices of PBMs.
