Iowa Pharmacists Call for PBM Reform at the Iowa Capitol

• By: IPA
• On: 04/08/2025 09:22:20
• In: Press Releases
• Comments: 0

The Iowa Pharmacy Association and its member pharmacists are taking to the Iowa Capitol to call for the passage of Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reforms. Pharmacists from all corners of the state are visiting with their legislators to urge the passage of PBM reform bills—HF 852 and SF 383—and to fight for impacted patients and pharmacies big and small across Iowa.
 
“We are at the Capitol today to continue to advocate for Iowa pharmacies and the patients they serve. Whether in small communities or our larger cities, pharmacies are closing at an alarming rate, and PBMs are to blame,” said Kate Gainer, CEO of the Iowa Pharmacy Association. “HF 852 and SF 383 will place Iowa among the growing number of states across the country who have passed meaningful PBM reforms, holding PBMs accountable and protecting patient access and the pharmacy industry.”
 
PBM practices of failing to reimburse pharmacies for the full costs of the drugs they dispense and forcing Iowans to use mail-order pharmacies or switch to a pharmacy the PBM itself owns have been addressed by legislation in several states across the country. The Iowa Pharmacy Association is urging the Iowa legislature to join this growing movement to protect pharmacies and patients alike.
 
“Legislators have been engaged on the issue of PBMs more than ever this legislative session. Today, we bring the undeniable truth to the Capitol that unchecked Pharmacy Benefit Manager practices are directly resulting in more pharmacy closures, and as a result, less patient access to their vital lifesaving medications,” said Wes Pilkington, owner of Evans Crossing Pharmacy in Evansdale, Iowa. “We are providing concrete evidence to legislators that PBM reform will not only safeguard patient access but also deliver significant cost savings to Iowa employers.”
 
Data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality captured health insurance premium increases from 2013-2023, comparing PBM reform states to non-reform states. The findings are clear—PBM reform states have seen slower overall growth in insurance premiums than in non-reform states.
 
More than 150 Iowa pharmacies have closed in the past decade, and 31 of which closed their doors in 2024 alone. HF 852 and SF 383 aim to protect Iowa pharmacies and healthcare access and choices for all Iowans.
 
Learn more about PBM reform and the impact on Iowa pharmacies and patients at patientsfirst.org/iowa.