Pennsylvania Addresses Pharmacy Closures

The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Health Committee heard testimony in early June on a bill that would cut the middlemen out of pharmaceuticals. House Bill 2270 tries to address the lack of oversight in the pharmaceutical industry by creating a single Pharmacy Benefit Administrator model for all of Pennsylvania’s state-funded healthcare programs. Supporters of the bill argue that mismanagement of pharmacy benefits by these middlemen is the reason for many hospital closures, and with 50% of Warren County, Pennsylvania residents currently living in a pharmacy desert, advocates believe HB 2270 is imperative for community health in Pennsylvania. A single Pharmacy Benefit Administrator for state programs would turn pharmacy revenue into a directed payment for the state to reinvest in patient care. Our Health Equity advocates for reforms to the pharmaceutical industry that ensure patients have access to the medicine they need at a reasonable price. Read more here.