NACDS to Capitol Hill: Stand Strong on PBM Reform Amid PBMs’ “Predictable and Cynical Ploys to Sabotage Congress’ Hard Work”

NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson issued the following statement today, amid reports that some pharmacy benefit managers and their vertically integrated affiliates are attempting to undermine good-faith bipartisan negotiations by members of Congress that, by all accounts, have positioned an array of long-overdue, real PBM reforms for inclusion in end-of-year legislation:

“Our message to Capitol Hill is this: stand strong just as you have for the past two years while crafting and negotiating these long-overdue PBM reforms for all Americans. Set aside the PBMs’ predictable and cynical ploys to sabotage Congress’ hard work. As the continuing resolution is finalized, Americans and their pharmacies are watching and waiting for real PBM reform now to lower drug costs and to protect pharmacy access.”

Anderson continued, “As NACDS pointed out just two days ago, more than two-thirds of voters say PBM reform is ‘must-pass legislation’ this year. Just over the past week, more than one-quarter of the U.S. House and one-third of the U.S. Senate have said as much on a bipartisan basis. Last weekend, President-elect Trump strongly emphasized PBM reform on Meet the Press. Earlier this year, the Biden Administration did so in a compelling White House event. Thirty-nine state attorneys general, in bipartisan fashion, have called for Congress to act on PBM reform. Evidence is pouring in from the U.S. House Oversight and Accountability Committee, from the Federal Trade Commission, from reporting in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, and far beyond. Pharmacies and pharmacists across all practice settings are speaking with one voice about the needed solutions. Congress has done the hard work and PBM reforms are ready to go, and the only thing that can stop meaningful progress now is inaction. Let’s get it done.”