NCPA gets behind collective bargaining bill

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Friday endorsed H.R. 1188, legislation introduced by U.S. Reps. Tom Marino, R-Pa., and Judy Chu, D-Calif. The bill will allow independent community pharmacies to collectively negotiate the terms and conditions of insurance contracts they must sign, typically with pharmacy benefit managers that administer prescription drug plans. 

“This important legislation …  would help level a distorted playing field upon which billion-dollar PBM corporations often stick independent community pharmacies with one-sided, take-it-or-leave-it contracts," stated NCPA CEO Douglas Hoey. "Unfortunately, it is often an offer that can’t be refused, as being excluded from a PBM’s pharmacy network could spell financial doom for an independent community pharmacy."