The clock is ticking for Iowa’s pharmacies. Last year, 31 closed their doors, falling victim to Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) who prioritize profits over patients. Big Insurance and PBMs don’t care if Iowans have to drive hours for their medications—they’d rather your pharmacy close than lose their grip on your prescriptions and the profits they make when we dispense them. Senate File 383 offers a chance to fight back. Iowa lawmakers must not fall for the fear mongering of big insurance and PBMs.
Conservative states like Arkansas, West Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee have already passed bold PBM reforms, ensuring their citizens can access their medications. West Virginia, for example, has reported major reductions in premium increases thanks to these reforms, proving that reining in PBMs saves money for consumers and employers alike.
PBMs are the culprits behind soaring drug costs. They inflate prices for employers and consumers, then underpay pharmacies, forcing closures. Their scare tactics about Senate File 383 are a desperate attempt to distract from their profiteering. This isn’t about pharmacies asking for handouts—it’s about stopping Big Insurance and PBMs from bleeding Iowa dry. Without reform, more communities will lose access to care, and patients will pay the price.
Iowa’s leaders must act with the same courage as their conservative counterparts across the country and pass meaningful reform that applies to all Iowa pharmacies. Senate File 383 is a common-sense solution to protect patients and preserve access to care. Delay only serves PBM profits. Pass this bill now, before another 31 pharmacies – and the communities they serve – are lost.
- Andrew Wagner, Eagle Grove Pharmacy
Andrew Wagner practices pharmacy in Eagle Grove, Iowa and was a 2017 graduate from Drake University College of Pharmacy. His pharmacy cares for a population of roughly 6,000 people in North Central Iowa.
