Legislation would prevent third-party companies from offering low rates to independent pharmacies, penalizing patients, The Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association, which represents the state’s federally qualified health centers, also supports the bill. Richelle Andrae, the group’s associate director of government relations, said at the press conference that PBMs target health centers with poor reimbursement rates for participating in a federal program to lower prescription drug costs for low-income patients.
It’s an issue Democratic Gov. Tony Evers proposed fixing in his state budget proposal. The governor’s budget also included proposals to increase regulation on several entities within the prescription drug supply chain, including pharmacy benefit managers. At the federal level, President Donald Trump and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have both said the new administration will aim to crack down on unfair pricing practices by PBMs.
