Alabama passes PBM reform bill
By HME News Staff
Updated 9:55 AM CDT, Thu April 10, 2025
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Alabama House of Representatives has unanimously passed SB252, a bill that would support independent pharmacies statewide by creating more transparency and limiting the power of pharmacy benefit managers. The “Community Pharmacy Relief Act,” which was already approved by the Senate on March 20, was introduced by Sen. Billy Beasley, D-Clayton, and Rep. Phillip Rigsby, R-Huntsville, a pharmacist. Rigsby told the Alabama Political Reporter that the bill addresses concerns over the business practices of pharmacy benefit managers who act as intermediaries between pharmacies, health insurers and drug manufacturers. Since the beginning of this year alone, Alabama has lost 10 local pharmacies, according to the article. Nationally, pharmacy stakeholders have been raising alarms on PBMs. In January, Hugh Chancy, former president of the National Community Pharmacists Association testified in support of PBM reforms during a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.
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