Long, Clifford Address PBMs

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A hot button issue across the country and especially rural communities is PBMs, or Pharmacy Benefit Managers, and their potential to put locally owned pharmacies out of business. District 124 Kansas State Representative Marty Long (R-Ulysses) and District 39 Kansas State Senator Dr. Bill Clifford (R-Garden City) addressed the issue at the February 15 “Legislative Coffee” at Grant County Fire Station.

Pharmacy Benefit Managers are companies that provide services to health insurance companies, employers, and other healthcare organizations by managing prescription drug benefits. PBMs act as intermediaries between health insurers, pharmacies, and drug manufacturers, aiming to optimize prescription drug costs and benefits for their clients.

Small town pharmacists say they are directing drug manufacturers to big names like CVS and Walgreens, essentially squeezing local pharmacies out of business.

Many at the February 15 coffee asked what the state legislature could do to help.

Long said more than 400 pharmacists went to the state capitol recently to bring the issue to light.

“When you see 400 white coats at the capitol building, it makes a statement,” Long said. “The problem with PBMs is it’s a federal issue. It could be fixed at the Federal level and the Federal Trade Commission is looking at the unfair practices being administered by PBMs. The problem with the Federal Trade Commission is it takes forever to get anything through that, so the pharmacists are wondering what the state of Kansas can do about that problem.”

Long said it needs to be a grassroots effort by the pharmacists, but they have not told the state what they want.

“I think their efforts this summer will be to craft legislation they would want Kansas to look at,” Long said. “I’m sure we’ll be in discussions I’m sure all summer and fall for something.”

Clifford, a physician, said the pharmacists weren’t quick enough to get a bill considered. He said his pharmacy in Garden City closed.

Many in hyper rural counties like Grant County would have to drive an hour just to get a prescription filled.

“It is a great concern,” Clifford added. “There is a wall of insurance companies on the other side of this fighting it.”

Most legislators agree something needs to be done but there’s a powerful lobby against it.

“It’s an extremely complex issue that won’t be fixed immediately or easily or overnight,” Long said. “But it needs to be looked at, and the other side – if you look at lobbyists for Walmart, CVS, Walgreens – they have a voice in this too, and so, we’re sitting here fighting for rural pharmacies, because we know how important they are to our districts, but you have to understand there’s another side that doesn’t care about us.”