Support Patients Before Monopolies Act to lower drug costs

The Patients Before Monopolies (PBM) Act introduced by Senators Hawley and Warren aims to prevent Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) from owning pharmacies and driving up prescription drug costs for their own benefit. This bipartisan legislation is a much-needed step to address the conflicts of interest and anti-competitive practices of PBMs that have resulted in higher costs for patients and independent pharmacies. The key provisions of the bill include prohibiting a PBM or insurer's parent company from owning a pharmacy business, requiring divestiture of pharmacy businesses by violators within three years, empowering regulatory agencies to enforce divestiture and disgorgement of ill-gotten gains, and mandating reporting and review of divestitures to protect competition and public interest. By separating PBMs from pharmacy ownership, this Act will help curb the monopolistic behavior of these middlemen, promote competition, and ultimately lower prescription drug costs for consumers. It is a crucial measure to prioritize patient access and affordability over corporate profits in the healthcare industry. I strongly urge you to support and pass the Patients Before Monopolies (PBM) Act to rein in the exploitative practices of PBMs and ensure a fairer, more transparent healthcare system for all.