PCMA: Big Pharma Wins Big with Passage of PBM and Employer Mandates
(Washington, D.C.) — Today, the Senate passed a government funding bill that includes unrelated new mandates on employers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that will increase prescription drug costs for American families. The policies focused solely on PBMs will drive drug prices higher, eliminate employer choice, and discourage competition in the PBM market. In response, Pharmaceutical Care […]
Wisconsin Weekly Update 1.30.26
In Review: The Assembly Health, Aging, and Long-Term Care Committee has set its agenda for its February 4 meeting. The PBM kitchen sink bill, AB 173, is currently not scheduled to be on the agenda. Should that change, we will alert the state’s distribution list. Up Next: Once the hearing is noticed, we will schedule […]
West Virginia Weekly Update 1.30.26
In Review: Next week, on Thursday, Americans for Prosperity is hosting a policy discussion with the Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy on the recent state-level regulation of pharmacy benefit managers, specifically SB 453, which, among other things, increased the dispensing fee for state employee plan participants. In addition, PCMA is due to meet with […]
Virginia Weekly Update 1.30.26
In Review: The Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor held a public hearing on Monday, January 26. PCMA and member companies worked together to successfully defeat a Republican delinking bill, SB 413, and a Republican omnibus anti-PBM kitchen sink bill, SB 410. Additionally, we successfully lobbied to make the Governor’s delinking bill optional and amended […]
Tennessee Weekly Update 1.30.26
In Review: Last week, companion bills were introduced, SB 2040 by Senator Diana Harsbarger (R) and HB 1959 by Representative Rick Scarbrough (R), both with personal ties to independent pharmacies. PCMA is working closely with member company teams, PCMA Policy, and Public Affairs in opposition. Additionally, PCMA is coordinating with the Tennessee Employer Benefits Alliance (TEBA) and […]
South Dakota Weekly Update 1.30.26
In Review: On Thursday, the House Health and Human Services Committee held a hearing on HB 1085, which would require preferential treatment of the coverage of nonopioid prescription drugs and place restrictions on prior authorization for such drugs. PCMA, insurers, and others testified in opposition to the bill. The Committee, by a vote of 10 – 3, deferred the […]
South Carolina Weekly Update 1.30.26
In Review: Senate Bill 342, which is the NADAC plus dispensing fee bill that carried over from last year, was noticed for a committee hearing next week. PCMA and our members have been working with the Senate Subcommittee on the bill and plan to be in Columbia next week for the hearing. Up Next: PCMA […]
North Dakota Weekly Update 1.30.26
In Review: The North Dakota legislature held a three-day Special Session last week that adjourned last Friday. The Special Session was meant to focus on issues related to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and the state’s application for federal funding. One of the six bills passed of note, SB 2402, dealt with increasing the prescriptive authority of […]
New Hampshire Weekly Update 1.30.26
In Review: PCMA met with the New Hampshire Insurance Department (NHID) and the staff of Governor Kelly Ayotte (R), updating them on the two anti-PBM bills in the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. Chair David Rochefort (R) meets with the NHID next week to discuss the PBM bills. PCMA plans on following up […]
Mississippi Weekly Update 1.30.26
In Review: The bill-introduction deadline was last week, and several new PBM bills were introduced. The most problematic bills are Senator Daniel Parks’ (R) SB 2575 and Representative Donnie Scoggins’ (R) HB 1672. Senate Bill 2575 and HB 1672 are companion measures that have expanded their scope this year to include delinking and forced pharmacy […]
