State Senator Jill Carter takes action to make Missouri’s pharmacy system fairer
State Senator Jill Carter has introduced a bill designed to protect both patients and pharmacies.
What do you think?
Today in the Missouri Senate Families, Seniors and Health Committee, State Senators Jill Carter, R-Granby, and Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, introduced two bills designed to protect both patients and pharmacies by promoting fairness, transparency and choice in Missouri’s healthcare system.
Senator Carter’s Senate Bill 984 strengthens protections for pharmacies and patients. The bill requires 14 days’ notice for audits, limits reviews to 25 prescriptions, allows pharmacies 30 days to correct errors and bans audits during the first five business days of the month.
The bill also prevents pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) from charging patients more than the cash price or the pharmacy’s contracted rate, requires transparency in claims and affiliated pharmacy practices, establishes PBM fiduciary duties and directs the Department of Health and Senior Services to create a program to support critical access pharmacies statewide.
“I’m proud to support this bill because I believe it’s a win for both patients and pharmacies,” said Sen. Carter. “It helps patients afford their prescriptions, gives pharmacies a chance to fix mistakes and supports the local pharmacies we all rely on.”
Senator Fitzwater’s Senate Bill 968 ensures patients can choose any participating pharmacy or pharmacist without facing penalties or restrictions. The bill also prevents PBMs from imposing extra requirements beyond what state law allows. It guarantees fair payment to pharmacies by requiring PBMs to pay at least the standard drug price, match what they pay their own affiliates and provide a dispensing fee of at least 90% of the MO HealthNet rate. Additionally, PBMs are prohibited from retaliating against pharmacies that appeal payment disputes.
“It is absurd to me that a pharmacy would have to charge less than what they paid for a product,” said Sen. Fitzwater. “This bill is about fairness for everyone. Patients can go to the pharmacy they trust, and local pharmacies get a fair shake for the work they do."
To learn more about or monitor the progress of legislation sponsored by Sen. Carter and Sen. Fitzwater, visit Senate.mo.gov/Carter and Senate.mo.gov/Fitzwater.
