How State-Level PBM Reform Can Lead to Federal Legislation

With the passing of Iowa’s Senate File (SF) 383, other states are beginning to follow suit and enact pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform in an attempt to preserve community pharmacy businesses. As Iowa joins other states that have limited PBM control, experts are skeptical as to how states’ actions will inform the federal government’s potential signing of PBM reform.

“Our bill does a lot of things. One, it adds transparency to the system. It has a predictable payment model; it makes sure that patients ultimately get to choose their care provider,” Brett Barker, PharmD, Iowa state representative in the 51st District, told Drug Topics. “Then, it also makes pharmacies full and makes sure we get paid what it costs us to put the drugs on our shelves. Those are kind of the 4 legs of the stool here of this piece of legislation.”

Barker recently spoke with Drug Topics about his state’s newest PBM law. In this part of the interview, Barker focused on the snowball effect that state-level reform is creating. With states before Iowa signing reform this year and others expected to follow suit, Barker believes the pharmacy benefits industry is at a turning point.

Learn about the perspectives on PBM reform from a state representative involved with crafting and advocating for a law. Also, stay tuned for the full-length conversation with Barker, who dove deep into SF 383 and what it means for the greater pharmacy industry.

READ MORE: Q&A: How Iowa PBM Bill is Set to Preserve Pharmacy Access

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