Pharmacists Fight Back Act Passes Key Congressional Committee
Pharmacists Fight Back Act Passes Key Congressional Committee
H.R. 6610, Pharmacists Fight Back Act (Federal Employee Health Benefits Program Act) passed out of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform last week. This is an important step forward in advancing meaningful PBM reform within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
MPhA was a signatory on a pharmacy coalition letter with other national and state pharmacy organizations, business owners, and patient and consumer advocacy groups in support of the legislation.
Bill Highlights
- Fair Reimbursement: Replaces hidden PBM pricing formulas with a market-based standard tied to the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) plus a set dispensing fee, eliminating spread pricing.
- Rebate Pass-Through: Requires drug manufacturer rebates to go directly to patients at the cash register to lower out-of-pocket costs, or toward reducing overall plan premiums.
- Banning Patient Steering: Stops PBMs from forcing or tricking patients into using specific mail-order or PBM-owned specialty pharmacies, restoring patient freedom of choice.
- Strict Oversight & Penalties: Establishes rules and heavy civil fines for PBMs that break compliance or engage in anti-competitive behavior against independent community pharmacies.
To read the full Coalition letter, click here.