A bill that would require pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to pay independent pharmacies more for medications has passed both chambers of the Alabama Legislature and is now awaiting final approval from Gov. Kay Ivey. Sponsored by former pharmacist Sen. Billy Beasley, the bill, known as Senate Bill 252, aims to ensure independent pharmacies are reimbursed for drugs by an amount equal to or above what is paid by the Alabama Medicaid Agency, including a dispensing fee of $10.64 per prescription.
The bill also prohibits anti-competitive PBM practices such as steering patients towards specific pharmacies, issuing retroactive fees, or charging insurers higher rates for drugs than what pharmacies are reimbursed, a practice known as spread pricing. The bill has received strong support from pharmacists across the state, with many expressing concerns that PBM practices were putting them out of business.
Despite opposition from some business groups who argue that increased costs to PBMs will be passed on to Alabama businesses and their employees, the bill has garnered bipartisan support in the legislature. Rep. Phillip Rigsby, a pharmacist who carried the bill in the House, emphasized the importance of maintaining access to local pharmacies, particularly in rural communities where they serve as the most accessible healthcare providers.
Following the bill’s passage in both chambers, lawmakers have praised Rigsby and Beasley for their efforts in advancing the legislation, which is seen as a win for pharmacists and patients in Alabama. The bill now awaits final approval from Gov. Ivey before becoming law, a move that supporters hope will help protect independent pharmacies and ensure continued access to healthcare services across the state.
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