Finish the Fight: Push for PBM Reform in the Final Lame Duck Session of Congress

As we approach the end of 2024 when the 118th Congress ends, the urgency to pass Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reform at the federal level has never been greater. Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC), in collaboration with the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) and other pharmacy group purchasing organizations, are leading the charge with a campaign to ensure that PBM reform is included in any “must pass” legislation that Congress clears before it adjourns at the end of 2024.

Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs, have long been a thorn in the side of independent pharmacies and patients alike. These middlemen have been allowed to operate with minimal oversight, often engaging in practices that drive up costs for patients and squeeze the margins of independent pharmacies like you. PBMs have been known to:

• Manipulate drug prices: PBMs often negotiate rebates and discounts with drug manufacturers, but these savings are rarely passed on to patients. Instead, PBMs pocket the difference, leading to higher out-of-pocket costs for your customers.
• Engage in unfair reimbursement practices: Independent pharmacies are frequently reimbursed at rates below their cost to acquire medications, making it difficult for you to stay in business.
• Lack transparency: The opaque nature of PBM operations makes it challenging to hold them accountable for their actions.

The lame duck session of Congress is our last opportunity this year to push for meaningful PBM reform. With a new Congress set to convene in January, the political landscape is shifting, with the potential to make it harder to pass this critical legislation. By including PBM reform in the omnibus spending bill, we can ensure that these much-needed changes are enacted before the end of the year.

NCPA’s Finish the Fight campaign is mobilizing independent pharmacies like yours across the country to act. We are asking each pharmacy to get a minimum of 10 patients to contact their members of Congress and demand PBM reform. Here’s how you can get involved:

1. Download Resources: Visit www.ncpa.org/finishthefight to download posters, flyers, and other materials that you can display in your store or include in prescription bags. These resources will help educate your patients about the importance of PBM reform and encourage them to act.
2. Use IPC Flyers: In addition to the NCPA resources, IPC has created flyers that you can download directly from this blog. These flyers provide additional information and can be a valuable tool in your advocacy efforts.
• PBM Flyer 1
• PBM Flyer 2
3. Contact Congress: Use our Voter Voice messaging system to send a message to your members of Congress. It only takes a few minutes, but it can make a big difference. Click here to send your message now.

For members and affiliates of IPC, beginning the week of November 18th and running through November 22nd, we will be including in every warehouse shipment one of the two flyer options for you to post in your store. We hope this helps increase patient participation. Please post this in a high-traffic area to maximize patient views and interaction. Patients can scan the QR code and send in their message to their member of Congress.

We are sharing these resources from Hometown Pharmacy in Wisconsin to gather data on the impact of PBMs on independent pharmacies. We are asking pharmacy owners to fill out a Google form detailing their experiences with PBMs. This information will be used to strengthen our case for reform and highlight the real-world consequences of PBM practices. Fill out the form here.

To further drive home the message, Patient Protector has created a trailer for an upcoming documentary that exposes PBMs as the modern medical mafia. This powerful video is designed to provoke anger and frustration, to motivate you to act. We encourage you to watch the video and share it with your patients and colleagues.

You cannot afford to wait any longer, the practices of PBMs are harming your independent pharmacy and your patients every day. By coming together and making our voices heard, we can push for the reforms needed to bring transparency, fairness, and accountability to the PBM industry.

Join us in this critical fight. Download the resources, contact your members of Congress, share your story, and spread the word. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that PBM reform is passed before the end of the year.