A new report points a way forward for Pa. lawmakers seeking to aid struggling pharmacies

A new report by Pennsylvania's Insurance Department suggests requiring pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to pay higher fees to pharmacies could help reduce closures. Over 1,000 pharmacies have shut down in Pennsylvania since 2020, with pharmacists attributing the decline to low reimbursement rates from PBMs, which process 80% of U.S. prescription claims. The study found that increasing dispensing fees to $10.49 per prescription would cost insurers less than 1% of total spending while supporting independent pharmacies.