LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Pharmacists and lawmakers are working together on new legislation they hope will cut down on the price of prescriptions.

Lawmakers and independent pharmacists from 10 states, including Kentucky, gathered Thursday in Washington for a news conference to announce HR 9096, also known as the Pharmacists Fight Back Act. The legislation, which was introduced July 23 in the House, is aimed at implementing a pharmacy reimbursement model to use national averages to drive down the cost of prescription medication. It's focused on the actions of pharmacy benefit mangers, or PBMs, the "middlemen" of drug pricing, the lawmakers allege. 

The representatives, pharmacists and pharmacy owners said Thursday that patients, community pharmacies and taxpayers have been forced to shoulder the burden of rising prices.

"Independent pharmacies are struggling to remain in business, and even chain drug stores in Kentucky are being forced to reduce hours and cut staffing," said Ben Mudd, executive director of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association. "This has led to burnout within our profession and a decline in the overall quality of patient care."

According to the Center for American Progress, pharmacy benefit mangers contract with health insurance plans to negotiate prices with drug manufacturers. The Pharmacists Fight Back Act wouldn't allow them to, among other things:

  • Charge a beneficiary more for a prescription drug than the amount of reimbursement made to the pharmacy that dispenses such drug.
  • Require a beneficiary to obtain a brand name prescription drug when a lower cost, AB-rated generic version of such brand name drug is available.

"On behalf of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association, we express our strong support for the Pharmacists Fight Back Act introduced by Congressman Auchincloss and Congresswoman Harshbarger," Mudd said in a news release in July. "Having witnessed the positive impact of similar PBM reform legislation within Kentucky's Medicaid program and commercial market, we understand the critical importance of extending these reforms to the Federal Medicare program. This federal legislation is essential to ensure fair and transparent reimbursement practices for all pharmacies nationwide. This bill will protect patient choice and enhance pharmacy access, benefiting patients and the healthcare system as a whole. We commend the efforts of our Congressional leaders and urge swift passage of this vital reform."

During the news conference Thursday, two parents shared the story of their son, saying this January his cost for asthma medication increased from $66 to more than $500 for the prescription. They said instead of paying for the medication, he chose to keep the money to pay rent and a few days later, suffered an asthma attack. They said their son ended up in the hospital for days and ultimately died.

Pharmacists from across the country spoke in favor of the bill, calling for transparency. 

"The pharmacy benefit managers are fleecing independent pharmacists and consumers, to the tune of billions of dollars every year," said U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop from Georgia.

For more information on HR 9096, click here.

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