Chairman Calls Meeting of Pharmacy and PBMs

Chairman Lucio III (left) welcomes his constituent and personal pharmacist, TPA Vice President Michael Muñiz.

House Insurance Committee Chairman Eddie Lucio III (D-38) hosted a meeting Monday with pharmacy and pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs). The chairman started the meeting saying it was an information session and not to debate the issue or the bill (HB 2331), but for him to gain a better understanding of how the PBM model works.

TPA’s President-elect Raj Chhadua, Vice President Michael Muñiz, both independent pharmacy owners, and Board member Jay Bueche of H-E-B Pharmacy attended the meeting along with CEO Debbie Garza. Other lobbyists representing pharmacists and pharmacies and PBMs and health plans, plus many independent pharmacy owners themselves, attended the standing-room-only meeting. Chairman Lucio III made it clear he wants a transparent and consistent process. Muñiz is a constituent and pharmacist of the Chairman and was asked to layout what he experiences regularly with PBM practices.

Rep. Tom Oliverson (R-130), Vice Chairman of the Committee and sponsor of pharmacy’s top legislative priority, the PBM bill (HB 2331), was also in attendance and walked through the provisions of his bill. He stated that the starting place of the legislation doesn’t mean where we end up. Rep. Oliverson also expressed to the Chairman that the top three issues with PBMs is lack of transparency for the consumer, the plan subscriber, and the pharmacy.

 Rep. Tom Oliverson greets TPA CEO Debbie Garza, while and AIP’s Audra Conwell (left) and TPA lobbyist Karen Reagan (right) look on.