SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois Pharmacists Association and Illinois Council of Health System Pharmacists are backing Gov. JB Pritzker‘s plan to lower drug prices and increase access to community pharmacies.

Pritzker’s proposal could prevent pharmacy benefit managers from inflating medication costs by banning spread pricing and blocking PBMs from using arbitrary drug classifications that limit access while charging consumers more.

Advocates told reporters Wednesday that pharmacy benefit managers have increasingly leveraged their market power to inflate drug prices, limit patient choice and undermine independent pharmacies.

"It is through the tireless efforts of these elected officials that we hope to see the end of PBM-driven practices that have long terrorized patients and pharmacies here in Illinois," said IPhA President and Petersburg Pharmacist David Bagot. "Together, we can ensure PBMs no longer control the system at the expense of the patients and the pharmacies."

The governor’s legislation could set new transparency requirements and penalize PBMs when they fail to comply. Sponsors told WAND News that they plan to have the bill language filed next week.

"Why is it that people think that going to Canada is going to get them a cheaper prescription? Those drugs are mostly made in the United States," said Sen. Dave Koehler (D-Peoria). "What is the difference in that? The difference is these middle men taking that big hunk of profit right out of the middle of this thing. That’s we got to have some reform."

Still, the Pharmaceutical Care Management Association told WAND News last week that Pritzker missed the mark on the value of pharmacy benefit managers. Their organization argued that the core mission of PBMs is to lower prescription drug prices and increase access.

"PBMs are working on behalf of Illinois employers, unions, and patients in the fight against high drug costs and are the only stakeholder in the prescription drug supply chain dedicated to lowering drug costs," PCMA leaders stated. "In fact, PBMs save patients and employers $1,040 per person per year in the state and will save Illinois patients and health plans $39.9 billion over ten years." 

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