Prescription drug middlemen called Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are best described as “pharmaceutical benefit manipulators.” They are driving up costs for Floridians by inflating drug prices. They’re also undercutting patients’ choice of pharmacies and access to medicines a physician prescribes. In Florida, PBMs and the payers they work for rake in billions of dollars through complexities they’ve built into the system, and then they pocket this cash instead of passing along all the drug savings that were intended for families.
Patients can’t afford to keep getting ripped off. It’s time to fix this broken system.
Thankfully, the Florida legislature is taking bold action to enact policies that will confront this manipulation, hold PBMs accountable, increase transparency, and promote free market competition – all while lowering the cost of drugs for all Floridians. SB 1550/HB 1509 will ensure that Pharmacy Benefit Managers have proper oversight and accountability.
We’re headed in the right direction, and must lend our support to legislation that will provide patients with real relief from soaring drug costs.
“We are going to accomplish the most comprehensive transparency legislation in Florida history with respect to prescription drugs.”
- Gov. Ron DeSantis
Gov. Ron DeSantis is taking bold action to lower drug prices for Floridians by holding PBMs accountable. He started with an Executive Order in 2022 and solidified that promise by proposing legislation, ultimately SB 550/HB 1509, that will tackle some of the most challenging issues that are driving up prescription costs for Floridians.
Under the Governor’s leadership, state officials are also conducting an audit of predatory PBM practices to determine what steps to take to rein in these issues and put Florida patients first.
The filing of SB 550/HB 1509 marks an unprecedented step in the fight to hold PBMs accountable. Once passed, this landmark legislation will change the lives of Florida patients by giving them access to the care they deserve.
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