Six national pharmacy organizations voiced strong support for the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, which includes the first major pharmacy benefit manager reform in Medicare Part D in nearly 20 years.
The bill is part of a broader $1.2 trillion bipartisan spending package aimed at stabilizing key health programs before the Jan. 30 funding deadline. In a Jan. 21 joint statement, the groups — including the National Community Pharmacists Association and American Pharmacists Association — urged Congress to pass the bill this week.
The legislation would require CMS to enforce “reasonable and relevant” contract terms in Medicare Part D, establish an appeals process for pharmacies and prohibit PBM compensation from being tied to drug list prices. It also includes $188 million in implementation funding and new tools for CMS to track pharmacy payment trends and network access.
Pharmacy advocates said the reforms are critical to preserving patient access, curbing inflated drug costs and addressing practices they say have contributed to widespread pharmacy closures. The PBM provisions are among several healthcare measures in the minibus package, which also includes telehealth extensions, rural hospital funding and a delay of Medicaid DSH cuts.
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