LEGISLATORS, PUTT MEMBERS GATHER AT FIRST "POLITICAL SUMMIT" TO ADDRESS HOW TO CURTAIL PBM POWER

PUTT members and independent pharmacy advocates gathered in New Orleans on Aug. 10 and 11 to talk about anti-PBM legislation and what it will take to curtail unchecked, unregulated PBM power as well as to create the conditions for transparency, accountability and legislation that protects patients and pharmacies being driven out of business.

Arkansas Pharmacists Association CEO Scott Pace kicked off the Summit with an in-depth look at Arkansas' new PBM Licensure Act, signed into law earlier this spring. He asked attendees to look at the current system from the point of view of PBMs, pointing to medical loss ratios as but one tool PBMs use to make it look like they're operating within the letter of the law while making sizable profits off the back of the portion of the ratio meant to cover overhead.

PUTT brought together 9 of the nation's leading anti-PBM state legislators to address the problem of regulating PBMs...

Rep. David Santiago, FL; Sen. Max Wise, KY; Rep. Jason Rapert, AR; Sen. Jeff Mullis, GA; Rep. Scott Lipps, OH; Rep. John Forbes, IA; Dr. Tom Oliverson, TX; Bernard LeBas, LA; and Rep. Robert Johnson, LA advised members on actions they can and should be taking in their home states to get involved and change the law.

Greg Reybold of the Georgia Pharmacy Association conducted a case study over lunch on the Georgia Patient Act. During the afternoon and Saturday sessions, Summit attendees engaged in frank discussion about policy, social media, association and community partnerships, and captured ideas for use in developing a preliminary "roadmap" that will serve as the foundation for promoting transparency and developing anti-PBM abuse legislation in 2019.

PUTT was warmly welcomed by the Louisiana Independent Pharmacists Association (LIPA), who hosted a cocktail reception in the courtyard of the historic Hotel Mazarin in the French Quarter.

PUTT plans a series of follow up calls for Summit attendees to continue the work that was begun this month in New Orleans.