HARRISBURG – Sens. Judy Ward (R-30) and Lisa Boscola (D-18), chairs of the Senate Community Pharmacy Caucus, held an informational briefing with local pharmacists, the state Department of Human Services and Insurance Department, and industry stakeholders to highlight community pharmacies and the important role they play to Pennsylvania residents.
Today’s informational briefing highlighted the impacts of Act 77 of 2024, the Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) reform that passed last session. The law banned harmful practices such as patient steering and claw backs, strengthened network adequacy requirements, increased PBM transparency and accountability and gave the administration additional oversight. Local pharmacies also shared concerns about day-to-day operations, as many community pharmacies continue to face closures. Sens. Judy Ward and Christine Tartaglione championed Senate Bill 1000, companion legislation to Act 77 of 2024.
“Today’s briefing focused on protecting Pennsylvania pharmacies,” said Ward. “Our pharmacies serve on the frontlines of health care, providing access and services to Pennsylvanians right in their neighborhoods. It is critical that we understand their needs and support them as roughly 600 pharmacies have closed within the last two years. What we have heard today is that there is more work to be done, and my colleagues and I are committed to doing that.”
“Pharmacies across Pennsylvania have been under enormous strain, but we are not standing still,” Boscola said. “I’m proud to work alongside Senator Ward and the Community Pharmacy Caucus to build upon the progress made by Act 77. Our focus remains on strengthening community pharmacies so patients across Pennsylvania can continue to rely on them for care.”
The Senate Community Pharmacy Caucus has led the charge alongside industry stakeholders on representing Pennsylvania’s pharmacy community within the state Senate. This spring, the Caucus held a briefing to consider testimony on Medicaid payment rates, legislative solutions in other states, implementation of Act 77 of 2024 and the current state of Pennsylvania’s community and independent pharmacies.
Video of today’s hearing can be found here.
CONTACT: Nathan Akers 717-787-2421 (Ward)
Joseph M. Kelly 610-868-8667 (Boscola)