Pharmacists Fight Back: Federal PBM Reform Advances | PBM Reform with APCI

PBM Reform PodcastSponsored by American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc. (APCI)Host: Greg ReyboldSpecial Guest: Ben Mudd, PharmD, Executive Director, Kentucky Pharmacists Association

Momentum for meaningful pharmacy benefit manager reform is building in Washington.

In this episode of the PBM Reform Podcast, host Greg Reybold welcomes Dr. Ben Mudd, Executive Director of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association, to examine the bipartisan Pharmacists Fight Back Act, H.R. 6610, and what its advancement could mean for patients, pharmacists, employers, and the future of independent pharmacy.

On July 22, 2026, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform reported the legislation favorably following a committee markup. Introduced by Chairman James Comer of Kentucky and Representative Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts, the bill would establish new requirements for pharmacy benefit managers participating in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.

The proposed reforms would require participating PBMs to provide fair pharmacy reimbursement, apply manufacturer rebates toward reducing beneficiaries’ prescription drug costs, prohibit patient steering to PBM-affiliated pharmacies, increase transparency, and establish penalties for noncompliance.

Greg and Ben discuss why the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program could become an important proving ground for broader PBM accountability and how federal action may influence commercial plans, state legislation, and future healthcare policy.

Episode Discussion

The conversation explores:

Why H.R. 6610 has attracted bipartisan support

How PBM reimbursement practices threaten independent pharmacy sustainability

The impact of patient steering and PBM-affiliated pharmacy networks

Why manufacturer rebates should directly reduce patients’ prescription costs