Bipartisan Concern Grows Over Pharmacy Benefit Managers

Why it matters locally: Given California's large population and significant healthcare market, any federal or state-level reforms impacting Pharmacy Benefit Managers could substantially affect drug costs and access for millions of Californians. The California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and the California Department of Insurance (CDI) oversee aspects of healthcare plans and could be involved in implementing any new regulations.

Politicians and patients from both Republican and Democratic parties have voiced shared concerns regarding pharmacy benefit managers, commonly known as PBMs. This bipartisan sentiment has manifested in legislative action within some states. Tennessee and Arkansas have enacted regulations concerning PBM operations. These measures reflect a broader trend of increased examination into how PBMs function within the healthcare system. Amye Joseph, a Democrat from Elizabethton, Tennessee, and Charlie Joseph, a Republican also from Elizabethton, Tennessee, illustrate this convergence of opinion. Both individuals have expressed dissatisfaction with PBMs, despite their differing political affiliations.