Aderholt Applauds SCOTUS Ruling that Will Benefit Locally Owned & Community Pharmacies

Press Release

Today, Congressman Robert Aderholt, (AL-04) released the following statement applauding the United States Supreme Court in its unanimous ruling Thursday that will benefit locally owned and community pharmacies who are such a vital healthcare link in rural areas, but who have struggled to stay open.

"Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously (8-0) decided a case (Rutledge v. PCMA) that will have a significant impact on the community pharmacists who serve our rural areas and their patients. For many years, I've heard from community pharmacists around the 4th District who simply want to serve their patients without being financially harmed by the pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the middlemen that manage prescription drug benefits for health insurers, Medicare Part D drug plans, and large employers.

"According to the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), "At issue was the extent to which the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), which regulates private employee benefit plans, preempts the states from regulating the amount that PBMs pay pharmacies to dispense prescription drugs that are covered by an employer-sponsored health plan.'

"Again, I applaud the Supreme Court for protecting these pharmacists and their patients from these abusive payment practices. With this decision, States are now empowered to protect these small-town pharmacies and their patients by providing drug pricing transparency, increased pharmacy access for patients, improved freedom of choice, and better healthcare for our citizens both during and after the pandemic.

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