State-Level PBM Reform Vital for Community Pharmacies, Patient Access

The issues of pharmacy closures and declining reimbursements have made operating a local, community pharmacy increasingly difficult, leading policymakers and industry advocates to call for regulation to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their reimbursement practices. While federal PBM reform has been the goal of many community pharmacists, state-level reform has significantly moved the needle in recent history.

With federal reform continuously being punted along on Capitol Hill, state reform in places like Arkansas and Iowa may present hope for community pharmacies and patients with poor access to medications.

“If PBMs are really impacting access to care for patients, pharmacies—and I said it before— [are] often one of the only health care providers within certain areas for a lot of communities,” Rick Gates, chief pharmacy officer at Walgreens, told Drug Topics. “When you're a local official and that access point closes for your constituents, it begs the question of what truly needs to change. Ironically, when you look at this, there were only a few states not too long ago that were leaning into PBM reform, but now it's becoming kind of a national movement.”

In a discussion surrounding the current state of retail and community pharmacy, Gates joined Drug Topics to share his insights and touch on the current happenings within the PBM reform space. From the gradual push for states to enact reforms to the overarching systematic issues within pharmacy, Gates provided his outlook for the near future of the community pharmacy profession.

Stay tuned for more from our conversation with Gates as he delves into the future of pharmacy by exploring the power of AI and new, integrated technology being introduced within pharmacy practices.

READ MORE: Q&A: Retail, Independent Pharmacies Continue to Call for Improved Reimbursement Practices

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