Photo Courtesy The Florida Channel
NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson released the following statement today after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform legislation into law:
“For far too long, PBM middlemen have manipulated Florida’s health care system, restricting patients’ access, driving up drug costs, and threatening pharmacies. With SB 1550 being signed into law today, Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Legislature have sent a clear message that they are putting Florida patients first.”
NACDS is working at the federal and state levels to advance bipartisan momentum for the PBM reform that is needed for patients, employers, taxpayers, communities, and pharmacies. NACDS’ pro-patient and pro-pharmacy Principles of PBM Reform include the following:
- Stop explosive retroactive fees
- Stop below-cost reimbursement
- Stop gaming of performance measures
- Stop “specialty definitions” from steering patients from their pharmacy
- Stop mandatory mail order
- Stop limited networks
- Stop overwhelming audits
- Stop the undercutting of PBM reform laws.
A poll conducted by Morning Consult December 7-12, 2022, and commissioned by NACDS found that 78 percent of Florida adults say pharmacists are “very credible” or “somewhat credible” sources when it comes to information about how to save money on prescription drugs – ranking them highest among those tested. Also, 87 percent of Florida adults say it is “very easy” or “somewhat easy” to access pharmacies – ranking them the most accessible healthcare destinations tested.
