PUTT Blog | Pharmacists Fight Back Act to Be Officially Announced at December 11 DC News Conference - Will You Join Us?

Mark your calendars for Thursday, December 11, 10 am ET. That’s when Representatives Jake Auchincloss and Diana Harshbarger, together with some of our profession’s most outspoken advocates, will announce the filing of the Pharmacists Fight Back Act bills in Medicaid/Medicare and the federal employee benefits plan. 

Following on the heels of Representative Buddy Carter's PBM Reform Act (HR 4317), the Pharmacists Fight Back Act bills are the most comprehensive federal PBM reform legislation introduced to date. PFB contains “gold standard” reforms that directly deal with PBM business practices that have thwarted patient choice and access to care, while also systematically undermining non-PBM owned retail pharmacies to the point of closure. 

We’re calling all pharmacy professionals to join us in Washington DC for the news conference. Your presence is needed, and it matters. 

This news conference is about more than filing legislation—it’s about visibly demonstrating to Congress through the power of our presence that we are united in demanding reform. The turnout at this event will directly impact how seriously our message is received.

Every pharmacist, pharmacy technician, pharmacy owner, prescriber and patient who attends communicates:

• Independent pharmacies provide essential healthcare access to communities

• PBMs have demonstrated they cannot be left to self-regulate. Their practices have caused direct material harm to pharmacies and patients

• Our nation’s communities cannot withstand further pharmacy closures - patients, employers and taxpayers WILL end up paying billions in unnecessary medical costs resulting from the well-documented outcomes of mandatory mail order pharmacy, patient steering to PBM pharmacies, steep pricing spread for “specialty” medications and more.

There is much work to be done to ensure the Pharmacists Fight Back Act bills are signed into law, but the first and most important step is to show your support by physically showing up on Capitol Hill. 

We will provide the exact location and logistical information in the coming days, but in the meantime, please let us know you’ll be there! (We have some fun and engaging events planned for before and after the news conference. Your RSVP will help us plan)

Thank you for taking this important step with us. We look forward to seeing you in DC on December 11!

Monique Whitney

Executive Director