NCPA, NDPA praise unanimous passage of PBM transparency bill by N.D. state assembly

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Wednesday joined the North Dakota Pharmacy Association in support of a pharmacy benefit manager transparency bill that was passed by the state assembly by a vote of 93-0 on Feb. 25. 

If signed into law, the legislation will require PBMs to notify pharmacies about how reimbursement for most prescription drugs would be calculated. “For too long pharmacies have been forced into one-sided contracts that compel pharmacies to either accept the PBMs’ [Maximum Allowable Cost lists] or forego serving their patients,” stated Mike Schwab, EVP for the North Dakota Pharmacy Association. “This legislation is a step in the right direction to ensure PBMs disclose how pharmacies will be reimbursed for generic drugs in contracts.”

This legislation now sits with the North Dakota State Senate's Human Services Committee. Similar MAC transparency legislation is currently being considered in Maryland, Georgia and Kentucky, the NCPA noted.