PUTT Blog | PUTT Goes to Washington

PUTTbulletin April 2025

As you read this, the PUTT Board is in Washington D.C. taking part in NCPA’s annual Congressional Fly In. We’re excited to join our fellow members, NCPA friends and other partners in PBM reform for 2 days of face-to-face meetings with federal policy makers about the need for PBM reform NOW.

On Monday, April 28, PUTT Board member Brandi Chane participated in the House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee Panel PBMs: The Drug Middlemen Who Increase Drug Prices, Limit Choice, and Hurt Local Pharmacists, speaking on behalf of U.S. independent pharmacy owners. 

Joining an esteemed panel that included NCPA’s Senior Counsel Matt Seiler; patient advocate Bil Schmidtknecht; Ashley Becot of Rosen Hotels & Resorts; and “Real Doc Speaks” Dr. Jim O’Leary; Brandi shared several of the struggles independent pharmacy owners know only too well with panel hosts Ranking Member Congressman Jerry Nadler (D-NY), and Congressman Chuy Garcia (D-IL). The hearing included an audience comprised of policy directors, government affairs professionals, and yes, one PCMA lobbyist.

Before the Panel, PUTT - represented by Brandi, PUTT President Deborah Keaveny and Executive Director Monique Whitney - took the opportunity to meet with Representative Michael Cloud’s legislative director, a member of the DOGE subcommittee. 

Following the panel, your PUTT team met with Representative Craig Goldman, a new member of the Energy & Commerce Committee, and later, Katie McInnes, senior aide to the Antitrust Subcommittee for the House Judiciary Committee to hold a detailed discussion of spread pricing, below-cost reimbursement and other PBM business practices crushing small business pharmacies.

We’ll continue to keep you posted on social media as we make our way across Capitol Hill. With many notable meetings lined up and our handy staff directories, we’ll spend the next 2 sharing our message with Congress about the need for immediate “Gold Standard” reforms - and by that we mean the Pharmacists Fight Back Act … which is coming soon! 

Look for updates from us and send us your questions, comments and suggestions on social media for whose offices to visit on your behalf while we’re in D.C.!

Yours in Advocacy,

Monique Whitney, Executive Director