US EditionMontana’s small pharmacies behind bill to corral pharmacy benefit managers
- In early March 2025, Montana's House passed House Bill 740 by a vote of 98-1, a bill aimed at regulating Pharmacy Benefit Managers and now under consideration by the state Senate.
- Independent Montana pharmacies are struggling with decreasing reimbursements from PBMs, sometimes receiving rates below their drug costs, leading to financial losses and closures.
- HB 740 sets minimum reimbursement requirements for PBMs, including no less than 106% of the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost plus a dispensing fee equivalent to Montana's Medicaid program , and restricts certain PBM practices.
- PBM and health plan lobbyists, like Bruce Spencer of Mountain Health Co-Op and Tonia Sorrell-Neal of the PBM trade group, oppose HB 740, arguing it's too broad, could increase drug costs, and has unintended consequences, while proposing a study of the prescription-drug market instead.
- With at least 20 states having passed laws regulating PBM payments and similar battles occurring nationwide, the outcome of HB 740 could significantly impact prescription drug markets and prices in Montana, potentially reaching the U.S. Supreme Court.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Pharmacists push for reforms to pharmacy benefit managers in NC
Pharmacy benefit managers say attempts to restrict their business practices will lead to higher drug prices for patients. Rep. Heather Rhyne, who is proposing legislation to limit PBM profits, disagrees.
Montana Free Press
Montana’s small pharmacies behind bill to corral pharmacy benefit managers
Montana’s small, independent pharmacies say they’re getting increasingly squeezed on reimbursements by pharmacy benefit managers — and are pushing an ambitious bill to rein in what they say are unfair practices by the powerful industry negotiators known as PBMs. This story also appeared in KFF Health News “Who in their right mind would subject themselves to this sort of treatment in a business relationship?” said Mike Mato…
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