Bipartisan Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill to Prevent PBMs from Owning Pharmacies
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Congress has reintroduced the Patients Before Monopolies (PBM) Act, which aims to prevent companies from owning both a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) and retail pharmacies. The bill, co-sponsored by Rep. Diana Harshbarger, Rep. Jake Auchincloss, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Sen. Josh Hawley, seeks to address concerns about conflicts of interest and rising drug costs. The legislation would require conglomerates with PBMs to divest their pharmacy holdings. This move follows similar state-level actions in Arkansas and Tennessee. The bill has gained support from the National Community Pharmacists Association, which criticizes the current business practices of PBMs. 
