DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Independent pharmacies are pushing for state legislation to be passed to put tighter controls on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) while creating greater choice for patients filling their prescriptions.
Two bills in the Illinois legislature are being considered which pharmacists hope pass in the current spring legislative session. HB4548 and SB2790.
PBMs are the middle man between insurance companies, pharmacies and patients. The legislation would give the Illinois Department of Insurance more power in overseeing PBMs.
Among the main points:
- Assuring Patient Choice – prohibiting PBMs from directly or indirectly forcing patients toward their own mail order pharmacies.
- Allowing patients to be able to chose their pharmacies without being forced to use a pharmacy owned by a PBM.
- Requiring PBMs to provide data and information to the Department of Insurance to ensure open transparency on how patient, plan sponsor, and taxpayer monies are distributed through the claim process.
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