ARLINGTON, Va. — The House of Representatives on Tuesday passed appropriations legislation that includes critical pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reforms for which the National Association of Chain Drug Stores has long advocated.
The legislation, which passed the House with a 217-214 vote and was previously approved by the Senate 71-29, now goes to President Trump’s desk for his expected signature.
“Congress and the Trump Administration are delivering a historic win for the American people and for the trusted pharmacies that serve as the face of neighborhood healthcare,” said NACDS president and CEO Anderson. “These PBM reforms are integral to reducing people’s drug costs and keeping pharmacy care within reach, and they must be implemented swiftly, effectively, and as intended by Congress.
“The abuses of the dominant PBM middlemen are widely recognized, and this landmark federal action reflects the broad, bipartisan commitment to confront and remedy them. This is the most important federal achievement to date for PBM reform, and it will sustain momentum and enable further reforms where needed.
Anderson expressed deep gratitude to “the bipartisan champions” who crafted and advanced the reforms, to members of Congress who cast decisive votes, and to Trump "for his commitment to rein in middlemen practices that have harmed patients and undermined pharmacy access.”
The PBM provisions include new transparency rules, limits on spread pricing, enhanced oversight of PBM compensation, and protections related to pharmacy reimbursement and network participation across Medicare and the commercial market.
Industry groups, including FMI – The Food Industry Association, warned that without comprehensive PBM reform—particularly addressing reimbursement and spread pricing—financially strained supermarket and community pharmacies could continue to close, reducing patient access to care.
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The route to House passage was uncertain until the Trump administration got the necessary GOP backing. Republican Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R., Fla.) and Tim Burchett (R., Tenn.) received assurances from the White House that there was a way to pass the SAVE Act, which would require photo identification and proof of citizenship for voters.
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