PUTT Blog | It’s “Go Time!” Does Your Congressional Representative Support the Pharmacists Fight Back Act?

It’s time! The most comprehensive federal pro-pharmacy/pharmacy patient PBM reform legislation is poised to be filed, so it’s time for all of us to take the first step of our campaign - yes, during the government shutdown - to support advancing this legislation to eventual successful enactment.

A Quick PFB Recap: Two Bills, One Mission

The Pharmacists Fight Back Act (PFB) is now strategically split into two bills to allow for relevant jurisdictional process. “PFB Medicare and Medicaid” will go before Energy and Commerce (covering Medicare Part D and Medicaid Managed Care), while “PFB Oversight” will go before Oversight and Government Reform (covering Federal Employee Health Benefit plans). While they address different federal health programs, both bills deliver the same powerful reforms to end the PBM practices that have been undercutting independent pharmacies and patient access for years.

What These Bills Do

Both versions of the Pharmacists Fight Back Act deliver four critical reforms:

1. Fair Pharmacy Reimbursement – Establishes transparent reimbursement at NADAC + 4% + dispensing fee, ending the massive markups at PBM-owned pharmacies while preventing the underpayments that have been crushing independent pharmacies. This also prohibits point-of-sale fees, retroactive fees, and spread pricing.

2. Ban on Steering – Stops PBMs from forcing patients to their affiliated pharmacies or creating preferred networks that cut you out.

3. Rebate Pass-Through – Requires 100% of manufacturer rebates to go directly to patients at the counter or to health plans, eliminating the opacity that has allowed PBMs to pocket billions.

4. Strong Enforcement – Imposes serious penalties on PBMs that violate these rules, with mandatory annual reporting to CMS, Office of Personnel Management, and plan sponsors to ensure compliance.

Strong Support from Strong Organizations 

This legislation has support from several major organizations: PUTT, NCPA, American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc; American Pharmacies; the Global Healthy Living Foundation, Pioneer Institute, Coalition of State Rheumatology Associations and more. But members of Congress need to hear directly from each of us — the pharmacy professionals on the front lines - to know that both bills must be passed into law in order to stop pharmacy closures and reduce the high costs that result when patients lose access to medication and pharmacy care.

Steps to Immediate, Effective Action 

Supporting the Pharmacists Fight Back Act (or any meaningful legislation) begins with reaching out to your Representative’s home (district) office and DC staff:

1. Call the local or DC office to speak to a staff member*

2. Send a message through their website or email* letting them know that PFB will be re-introduced as 2 bills and reach out to Rep. Jake Auchincloss’ office to co-sponsor. 

3. Share your experience as pharmacy professional: how PBM practices such as below-cost reimbursements and patient steering have affected your ability to provide patient care, and the real-world impact those practices have on your patients

*generally findable by internet search or at Congress.gov

Make it personal. Share how many prescriptions you filled last month at a loss. Talk about the patients who can no longer access your pharmacy due to narrow networks. Explain why this matters to their constituents - the community.

You've been fighting this battle in your pharmacy every single day. It’s now time to take the battle to Capitol Hill, and educate and support lawmakers who could help us and our patients score a major win against PBM greed!

In Advocacy,

Monique Whitney, Executive Director