Latest Updates

Late last week, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) announced they reached an agreement on an expanded Build Back Better/reconciliation bill. See Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 – Text and Summaries. While the situation remains fluid, now is a good time to explain key points and timing of this major development/breakthrough.

Updates on two developing issues at the federal and state levels: FDA Includes Pharmacists in Revised Paxlovid Prescribing Authority, and Florida is Re-evaluating State PBM Contracts

On June 7, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that it will begin an inquiry into PBM practices – particularly the actions of the 6 largest PBMs (CVS Caremark, Express Scripts (ESI), Optum, Humana, Prime, & MedImpact).

Jenni Zilka, SVP, Community & Specialty Pharmacy and President, Good Neighbor Pharmacy and Kevin Ban, Chief Medical Officer, Walgreens, have co-authored an article that urges the passage of H.R. 7213, the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services Act, bipartisan federal legislation that enables patients to continue to receive treatment from pharmacists for pandemic-related and respiratory health conditions.