Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the Community Pharmacy Relief Act into law April 15, a measure supported by pharmacy employees who staged a walkout at more than 100 pharmacies across the state.
The legislation prohibits pharmacy benefit managers from steering patients to a mail-order pharmacy or PBM affiliate, reimbursing a pharmacy less than what it reimburses an affiliate, practice spread pricing and charging pharmacies point-of-sale or retroactive fees for claims that have already been paid.
In late February, the Alabama Pharmacy Association met with state lawmakers to advocate for the bill while pharmacists across the state closed their doors, turned down lights or locked the front door, but kept the drive-through window open.
Since the beginning of 2025, 10 community pharmacies have closed due to PBM business practices, according to the Alabama Pharmacy Association.
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