Congress Still has Pharmacy Benefit Managers on the Mind After Midterms

November 24, 2022

After a mid-term election in the US that saw the Democrats unexpectedly maintaining control of the Senate, legislative action and congressional hearings into the practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) will still be on the docket in coming months. The industry has faced increasing scrutiny in recent years for practices that some call anti-consumer and anti-competitive.

According to JDSUPRA “Current HELP Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) will become Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, clearing the way for Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) to take the gavel on the HELP Committee. Sen. Sanders is known to be an ardent supporter of his pet priorities and has been known to throw the occasional rhetorical elbow during legislative debates. There could be a real change in committee culture with Senator Sanders in a leadership position. If there is friction between Senators Cassidy and Sanders, it will be even more essential for stakeholders to develop and deepen relationships throughout the Committee as a means of getting traction on legislative initiatives.”

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