NACDS Welcomes Major New Pennsylvania Law Protecting Patients’ Pharmacy Access

The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) is hailing today the enactment of Pennsylvania House Bill (HB) 1993, the "Pharmacy Benefit Reform Act," bipartisan legislation that will help protect Pennsylvanians' access to pharmacies by increasing the regulatory oversight of pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) middlemen and by preserving families' option to receive vaccines in pharmacies.

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives concurred on HB 1993 on July 11 after the State Senate passed it on July 10. Governor Josh Shapiro (D) signed the bill on July 17.

Critically, HB 1993 will help rein in the PBMs and their devastating tactics by addressing the following:

• HB 1993 will prohibit certain "steering" practices, ensuring patients' choice of their preferred pharmacy provider.
• HB 1993 will require PBMs to disclose to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department a comprehensive study of their business practices.
• HB 1993 contains robust network adequacy requirements that require a PBM to establish a network that meets or exceeds federal Medicare access standards, helping to protect patient access to the medications right for them.

The legislation also will help ensure that Pennsylvania families maintain ready access to some specific pharmacy services. Notably, Pennsylvania pharmacies administered more than 25 million vaccines to patients between 2019-2024, including 1.7 million to children. Three out of every four vaccines were given by pharmacies, 40% of those in underserved rural and urban areas.

Specifically, HB 1993 will protect patients' option to access the full range of childhood vaccinations at a pharmacy by allowing both pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to continue to provide immunizations for ages eight and up - and by creating the ability for pharmacists to test for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), in addition to influenza, COVID-19 and strep.

"Enactment of HB 1993 is a major victory for Pennsylvania families. NACDS appreciates the leadership of Gov. Josh Shapiro, State Senate Majority Leader Joe Pittman (R), Democratic Leader Jay Costa, State Senators Judy Ward (R), Christina Tartaglione (D) and Linda Culver (R), and State Representatives Jessica Benham (D), Valerie Gaydos (R), Donna Bullock (D), Jenn O'Mara (D), Tarik Khan (D), Seth Grove (R), Sheryl Delozier (R) and Jonathan Fritz (R)," said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson. "We applaud the Pennsylvania leaders for their overwhelming and bipartisan support of this common-sense legislation - which will help ensure continuity of care and access to the quality healthcare services that Pennsylvanians deserve.

"Pennsylvania is yet another state standing up for communities in the face of the 'pharmaceutical benefit manipulation' that deprives people of their choice of pharmacies and that force pharmacies of all sizes to close their doors. NACDS is here to stand up for the leaders who stand up for patients, pharmacies, employers, taxpayers, communities and the entire state by enacting, implementing, enforcing and defending PBM reform laws."

Read Gov. Josh Shapiro's (D) statement on the enactment of HB 1993, the "Pharmacy Audit Integrity and Transparency Act."

Watch here a clip of Pennsylvania State Representative Seth Grove (R) on the vital role of highly trained pharmacists and of pharmacy technicians in delivering quality care services.

See what Pennsylvania adults have to say about pharmacists and the services they provide.

Read more about NACDS' work to defend patient access.