National – Thirty-six state attorneys’ general, along with the top prosecutors for the District of Columbia, American Samoa, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, signed a letter urging members of Congress to enact legislation prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning or operating affiliated pharmacies. The letter addresses concerns about PBMs and their impact on prescription drug costs and access. It highlights the need for transparency in PBM operations and calls for legislative action to ensure fair practices. The letter emphasizes the importance of protecting consumers from excessive drug prices and ensuring that PBMs operate in a manner that benefits patients and healthcare providers.
Viatris Inc. announced a nationwide settlement framework to resolve opioid-related claims. The settlement, which is not an admission of wrongdoing or liability, involves payments of up to $335 million over the next nine years, with annual payments ranging from $27.5 million to $40 million. These funds will support state and local efforts to address opioid-related issues. To learn more, check out this Business Insider article.
Arkansas– SB 593, introduced by Republican Senators Justin Boyd and Brandon Achor, aims to implement new regulations for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The bill includes restrictions on PBMs owning or holding permits for pharmacies and seeks to protect patients' rights and access to medications. Currently, the bill was recommended for study in the Interim Committee on Insurance & Commerce.
Connecticut – SB 1279 is currently tabled for the Senate calendar. The bill seeks to improve nursing home care by establishing minimum staffing levels and imposing stricter penalties for violations. Specifically, the bill would require nursing homes to provide at least 3.5 hours of direct care per resident per day.
Rhode Island – Two bills introduced last month were sent to the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services, which recommended further study. This means the committee will examine the bills more closely before making any decisions on their progression.
- SB 787, as a reminder, would improve the rights of nursing home patients by supporting independent family councils and ensuring transparency in the waiting list process. Specifically, the bill would require nursing facilities with over thirty percent (30%) self-pay residents to admit applicants for non-private rooms on a first-come, first-served basis.
- SB 847, as a reminder, would require certain healthcare facilities to allow terminally ill patients to use medical cannabis within the facility.
Industry Watch: Healthcare News
NCPA released a statement on Drug Pricing Executive Order
Alexandria, VA (April 16, 2025) - The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) issued the following statement: President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order that aims to lower drug prices and includes provisions to reevaluate the role of middlemen in the supply chain and improve transparency into pharmacy benefit managers. To read the full statement, click here.
APA, NCPA Cheer First-of-Its-Kind State Law Banning PBMs from Owning Pharmacies
Alexandria, VA (April 16, 2025) - In a significant victory for patients and community pharmacies in Arkansas, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed HB 1150 into law today. This is groundbreaking legislation that prohibits state permits to pharmacies owned by pharmacy benefit managers effective Jan. 1, 2026. The National Community Pharmacists Association, which represents the country’s independent pharmacies, supported the Arkansas Pharmacists Association’s leadership on HB 1150 as it moved through the legislative process. To read the full story, click here.
AAMC Statement on the Senate Budget Resolution
Washington, D.C (April 3, 2025) - As the Senate considers its fiscal year 2025 budget resolution, we urge lawmakers to safeguard and ensure access to care for millions of hardworking Americans by rejecting policies that could result in substantial reductions in federal health care programs and restrict access to federal student financial aid for the next generation of physicians. AAMC-member academic health systems, teaching hospitals, medical schools, and their affiliated physician faculty practice plans serve a vital and irreplaceable role in our nation’s health care infrastructure. This includes training future physicians and health professionals, delivering a comprehensive range of high-quality health services, and acting as a critical health care safety net that ensures care for all patients, regardless of their ability to pay. To read more, click here.
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