Legislation reining in prescription drug middlemen was signed by the Governor this week. House Bill 1993 deals with contracts between pharmacies and the 72 pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) operating in the state, transparency and accountability measures and pharmacies administering immunizations among other things. Through our aggressive advocacy, PACHC was able to have language added to help protect covered entities, including FQHCs, from pickpocketing by PBMs. The language in the bill in Chapter 6 states that, A PBM licensed by the department to conduct business in this Commonwealth may not, as part of a contract agreement issued or renewed following the effective date of this section with a pharmacist or pharmacy under this part reimburse a qualified health center or covered entity an amount lesser than similar entities not participating in the program under section 340(b) of the Public Health Service Act (58 Stat. 682, 42 U.S.C. § ). This language does not address the issue with contract pharmacies.
