Heffley’s Bill to Bring Transparency to Prescription Pricing Advances to Senate

November 21, 2019

HARRISBURG – Legislation to bring much-needed transparency to the pricing practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) was passed unanimously by the House of Representatives on Wednesday. Reps. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) and Rob Matzie (D-Beaver/Allegheny) are the co-prime sponsors of House Bill 941, which now moves to the Senate for consideration.

“We heard from pharmacies in our districts about how they are being negatively impacted by the severe cuts to Medicaid reimbursement rates determined by PBMs,” said Heffley. “Our legislation will help to ensure these community pharmacies are able to survive and serve their customers of all ages, especially in rural areas of the state.”

To view Heffley’s video comments, click here.



Specifically, House Bill 941 would give the Department of Human Services the authority to request payment information from PBMs and require certain disclosures upon request.

Heffley noted that almost 90% of Pennsylvania’s Medicaid patients are served by managed-care companies that contract with the state. In turn, those companies contract with PBMs for their pharmacy programs to decide which drugs will be covered and how much to reimburse the pharmacies that fill the prescriptions.

The measure was included in a four-bill package to address prescription affordability and accessibility as part of the House Republicans’ larger legislative goal of creating a healthier Pennsylvania.

Representative Doyle Heffley
122nd Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Andy Briggs
717-260-6474
abriggs@pahousegop.com
RepHeffley.com / Facebook.com/RepHeffley