Budzinski Introduces Legislation to Crack Down on Predatory Drug Pricing, Rein in Pharmacy Benefit Managers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced the introduction of the bipartisan Pharmacists Fight Back Act, which would prohibit large Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) from artificially inflating drug prices and restricting network access and patient choice in federal healthcare plans. PBMs work as middlemen between manufacturers, insurers, and pharmacies – inflating drug prices at the expense of patients, community pharmacies, and American taxpayers. Budzinski, who is an original cosponsor of the bill, co-led the introduction of similar legislation in the 118th Congress.

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“Prescription drug prices are out of control in America, and predatory PBMs are only making it worse,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “Cracking down on these middlemen, who jack up the cost of lifesaving medications to line their own pockets, is a critical step to bring down prices and protect access to community pharmacies. I’m proud to help introduce this legislation that will provide greater transparency, accountability, and oversight to ensure that PBMs can no longer take advantage of hardworking Illinoisans.”

The Pharmacists Fight Back Act offers comprehensive reforms to crack down on these predatory practices by implementing a transparent pharmacy reimbursement model using market-based pricing benchmarked to the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC). It also removes the ability of PBMs to limit the network of pharmacies patients may choose to use and protects community pharmacists by prohibiting PBMs from steering patients to PBM-affiliated pharmacies. Finally, the bill enforces stricter penalties and more stringent oversight of PBMs working with federal health plans.

The Pharmacists Fight Back Act is co-led by Congressman Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (TN-01), and House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Chairman James Comer (KY-01). You can find text of both versions of the Pharmacists Fight Back Act under their respective jurisdictions under the House Committee on Energy & Commerce and the House Oversight Committee.

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