NACDS kicks off broadcast, digital campaign urging PBM reform

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores today launched a new broadcast and digital advertising campaign to stress the need for true reform of pharmaceutical benefit manager tactics.

“People must be at the center of care,” said Steve Anderson, president and CEO of NACDS. “Americans should be able to go to any pharmacy and have access to their medicines at an affordable price. PBM reform is needed now, and any proposed PBM legislation that does not include Americans served through Medicare and Medicaid – and their pharmacies – is not real reform.”

PBMs control Americans’ access to often life-saving medications and they increase costs, NACDS said. Unpredictable and irrational “DIR fees” imposed on pharmacies have skyrocketed 107,400% over the past decade. Further, from 2014-2022, 1,357 medications were excluded from at least one PBM formulary for at least one year. The result is higher cost medications and less choice for patients.

[Read more: NCPA, NACDS commend House committee investigation on PBMs]

“Pharmaceutical benefit manipulation” harms patients and pharmacies by driving up prices, limiting access to certain medications, and forcing pharmacies that serve their communities to close, especially in rural and underserved communities, the association said. The national 30-second spot, titled "REAL REFORM," addresses what U.S. Congress must do to stop abusive PBM tactics, while also strengthening oversight of PBMs, ensuring accountability, transparency and fairness. The "Real Reform" ad campaign will include broadcast, cable, web-based news and digital executions.

NACDS, which represents national and regional pharmacies in the drug store, supermarket and mass retail settings, has been fighting on the frontline of this issue, urging federal and state leaders alike to protect patients from PBM tactics. The federal government has specific actions that are within its power and responsibility to accomplish to bring PBM reform to Medicare and Medicaid. Meanwhile, this year, NACDS has pushed for change at all levels of government and as a result, the enactment of 31 bills across 27 states led to 55 policy changes consistent with NACDS PBM reform and reimbursement priorities. This builds on the enactment of 101 state PBM reform bills combined in 2021 and 2022.

[Read more: AAM report: Middlemen increasingly block patient access to new generics]