US Senator James Lankford (R-OK), a member of the Senate Finance Committee, raised concerns about Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and the Biden administration’s handling of mifepristone safety data during a recent hearing with Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
During the committee session, Lankford questioned Kennedy about steps being taken to ensure fairness for rural pharmacies and transparency in PBM operations. “…During the confirmation process, it was interesting when you and I met in my office, you said every single senator brought up PBMs to you, and you made th[at] statement during the confirmation process: This is an area that President Trump wants to take on, is the Pharmacy Benefit Managers. This is unfinished business in this committee, but I wanted to just know what is HHS doing at this point on the PBM issue in particular, to make sure we’re not driving out rural pharmacies, and what we could do to be able to make sure that’s fair?” Lankford asked.
Kennedy responded by outlining ongoing discussions with both PBMs and pharmaceutical companies. “…We’ve met with the PBMs, and we are in talks with them. We’re also in MFN talks with the pharmaceutical companies, who are also very interested in reducing the cut and getting transparency among the PBMs. And the PBMs have committed to us, to transparency, to some protocol that will guarantee transparency, and the part of the MFN negotiations would include direct-to-consumer marketing, which would eliminate the middleman. So, I think we’re doing a lot on PBMs.”
Lankford also addressed changes under the Biden administration regarding access to mifepristone for elective abortions. He expressed concern over reduced restrictions and asked about ongoing safety reviews: “There were a lot of changes on the allocation of Mifepristone for elective abortions under the Biden administration. It’s now open to anyone without a prescription on it. You don’t have to go through a doctor on it. There’s all kinds of issues that are happening now on it. So, the question was, you said that there would be a review on that just to be able to look at it, and make sure we’re following all safety protocols. Do you know what timing on that review?”
Kennedy acknowledged receipt of new data related to mifepristone safety protocols: “…We’re getting data in all the time, new data that we’re reviewing, and we know that during the Biden administration, they actually twisted the data to bury one of the safety signals, with a very high safety signal around 11%. So, we’re going to make sure that that doesn’t happen anymore. We’re producing on science and gold standard science on that. I’ll keep you abreast of where we are.”
Earlier this week Lankford led several senators—including Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jim Risch (R-ID), John Cornyn (R-TX), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN)—in submitting a formal comment letter supporting a Department of Veterans’ Affairs proposal aimed at rescinding an abortion mandate at VA facilities introduced by the Biden administration.
Lankford has been active in advocating for reforms intended to increase transparency among PBMs as well as policies designed to protect patient access at local pharmacies. In 2023 he introduced legislation such as The Protect Patient Access to Pharmacies Act along with bills focused on lowering drug costs for seniors.
Lankford continues his role as an advocate for pro-life positions following significant Supreme Court decisions related to abortion rights.
