Thanks to the incredible generosity of our members, TPA has sent $20,840 to the Arkansas Pharmacists Association to help defray the legal costs in its U.S. Supreme Court battle to regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). The Court is scheduled to hear oral arguments in Rutledge v. Pharmaceutical Care Management Association on April 27, with a decision expected by the end of June. Victory in the Supreme Court will set a precedent every state can use, so a win for Arkansas is a win for Texas pharmacy as well.
On March 5, the Oklahoma Pharmacists Association's executive director challenged TPA CEO Debbie Garza to take part in the PPOk's "Fiduciary Responsibility" Challenge. The premise: although PBMs can't say "fiduciary responsibility" (a concept at the heart of Arkansas' case), pharmacists can. Contestants are challenged to place a marshmallow in their mouth representing each of the nine Supreme Court justices and attempt to say "fiduciary responsibility." Those who fail are asked to donate $20 to NCPA's Legal Defense Fund. In response, TPA posted a video accepting the challenge—Texas style!
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