May 3
marked a major and exciting win for Texas pharmacy, as the Texas Senate
passed important pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform legislation for
the first time. Senate Bill 2195
by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst received a unanimous 30-0 vote and will now
advance to the House Insurance Committee.
During previous legislative
sessions, the Senate has been a major barrier to PBM reform. Monday's
vote on the Senate floor signals a positive shift in momentum. As she
did during the remarkable April 21 Senate Health and Human Services
Committee hearing, Sen. Kolkhorst laid out the bill with passion and
conviction.
"This is truly a free-market bill that is very important for
the future of our care," she said, explaining that the legislation
"tries to level the playing field between pharmacists and PBMs."
Many of
the 16 other Senators who have signed on to co-author the bill asked
pertinent questions, expressed their support for community pharmacies,
and specifically mentioned many of their personal relationships with
independent pharmacists in their districts.
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