PBM Reform Delays Continue to Negatively Impact Pharmacies | AAP 2025
A conversation with Douglas Hoey, CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association, at the American Associated Pharmacies 2025 Annual Conference.
Despite repeated promises from Congress, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform continues to be postponed. Mounting frustration has reached a boiling point as independent pharmacies continue to face significant economic challenges. A recent analysis from the American Economic Liberties Project found over 300 pharmacies closed in the United States since late December of 2024, with authors largely blaming Congress’ abandonment of PBM reform.1
With a new administration in the White House that has signaled commitment to PBM reform, some are hopeful it will happen. Douglas Hoey, CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), said that he is optimistic about the prospect of PBM reform finally getting pushed through. However, he also said that patience is wearing thin and that the time to act is now.
At the American Associated Pharmacies (AAP) Annual Conference, held April 10 to 12 in Austin, Texas, Drug Topics® sat down with Hoey to discuss if he is hopeful that PBM reform will be passed under the new administration, what needs to be done to get PBM reform passed, and his take on OptumRx’s announcement that it plans to introduce a cost-plus prescription reimbursement model to help pharmacies.
“We are beyond impatient,” Hoey said. “[NCPA’s Congressional Pharmacy Fly-In] is coming up and the message is, ‘When are you going to get this done?’ We want to be polite to a certain extent, but we’re almost beyond politeness. [PBM reform] hasn’t been done. Pharmacies are closing. Patients are suffering. Prices are going up. And Congress continues to sit on its hands. Am I optimistic? Yes. Am I done waiting? Yes.”
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