OKC Standard

Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma, alongside Representative Earl L. “Buddy” Carter of Georgia, is urging congressional leaders to pass reforms aimed at pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). These reforms are intended to enhance transparency and ensure fair treatment for pharmacists, as well as to make low-cost prescription drugs more accessible to patients.

Lankford has been a consistent advocate for changes in PBM practices. He introduced the Protect Patient Access to Pharmacies Act last year, aiming to hold PBMs accountable for their role in high prescription drug prices and their negative impact on locally-owned pharmacies. Additionally, he proposed two bills targeting major factors contributing to the high cost of prescription drugs, especially affecting seniors on Medicare: the Ensuring Access to Lower-Cost Medicines for Seniors Act and the Prescription Drug Supply Chain Pricing Transparency Act.

During a press conference, Lankford highlighted the struggles faced by rural pharmacies in Oklahoma. "Rural pharmacies in Oklahoma right now are tired of asking the question, ‘When does this get better?’ Because right now, this year, we’re losing about one pharmacy a day in America," he stated. He emphasized that PBMs push patients towards mail-order services or selected pharmacists, which undermines local family-run pharmacies.

Lankford criticized the operational challenges these independent pharmacies face due to PBM practices: "The real pharmacies and independent pharmacies across the country are tired of all the clawbacks, tired of the rules changing...and having to deal with all the chaos that are coming down from all the PBMs."

He pointed out that sections of his proposed legislation had passed through the Finance Committee with overwhelming support but have yet to be brought to a vote on the floor. "We want leadership to be able to take this up and bring it up at the end of the year package," he urged.

Lankford called for immediate action on these issues rather than delaying solutions further: "Let’s actually deal with it right now in this session."