Prairie State Wire

NFIB Illinois has formally addressed the Illinois House Health Care Availability Committee through written testimony, advocating for greater transparency in pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) pricing practices. The organization represents small and independent pharmacies, which claim to be at a disadvantage due to the current regulatory environment.

In the submitted letter, the NFIB Illinois State Director, Noah Finley, urges committee members to engage with local pharmacists and consider the challenges imposed by existing regulations. "The letter calls on the committee to 'talk to their hometown pharmacists, hear their stories, and take action to address the market imbalance caused by current government regulation,'" highlights the document.

Emphasizing the role of small businesses, the letter states: "Small and independently owned businesses, including pharmacies, are the lifeblood of our communities. They invest, hire, and build in small towns and neighborhoods across this state." The NFIB underscores the necessity for these businesses to receive the opportunity to compete fairly, advocating for transparency in PBM pricing as a solution.

The NFIB cites strong membership support for this initiative, with 79% of respondents in a recent ballot favoring the requirement for PBMs to disclose pricing methods to both pharmacies and consumers. The testimony urges the consideration of proposals aimed at rectifying market distortions.

Concluding, the NFIB calls on legislators to take substantial actions to mitigate the apparent imbalance in the pharmaceutical market resulting from current regulations.

Thank you for your support of Illinois’ small-business community.