Iowa’s PBM Reform Breakthrough: Inside Senate File 383 | PBM Reform with APCI

Guest: Iowa State Representative Brett Barker, PharmD — District 51Guest Host: Todd S. Eury, Pharmacy Podcast NetworkRegular Host: Greg Reybold — on special assignmentSponsored by: American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc. (APCI)

Iowa has delivered one of the most significant state-level victories in the continuing fight for pharmacy benefit manager reform.

On this episode of the PBM Reform Podcast, guest host Todd S. Eury sits down with Iowa State Representative Brett Barker, PharmD, a practicing pharmacist and representative of Iowa House District 51, for an inside look at the passage of Senate File 383 and what the new law could mean for independent pharmacies, employers, patients and the future of PBM regulation across the country.

Representative Barker brings a rare perspective to the discussion. In addition to serving in the Iowa Legislature, he is a pharmacist and pharmacy executive who understands firsthand the financial pressures facing community pharmacies. Barker served as one of the House floor managers for SF 383 as the legislation moved through the Iowa General Assembly.

The legislation cleared the Iowa House by a 75–15 vote after previously passing the Senate 36–14. Governor Kim Reynolds signed SF 383 into law on June 11, 2025, and its primary provisions became effective July 1, 2025.

SF 383 establishes substantial new requirements governing pharmacy benefit managers and their relationships with pharmacies, health plans and other payors. Among its provisions, the law addresses PBM reimbursement practices, pharmacy contracting, pass-through pricing, pharmacy appeals and disputes, network participation and protections intended to prevent discriminatory treatment of pharmacies.

One of the central themes of the legislation is greater transparency and accountability surrounding the flow of prescription-drug dollars. The law defines and establishes requirements involving pass-through pricing, in which payments made by a third-party payor to a PBM for prescription drugs correspond to payments made to the dispensing pharmacy, including applicable professional dispensing fees.

During the conversation, Todd and Representative Barker explore:

Why PBM reform became such an urgent issue for Iowa pharmacists and patients.

What community pharmacies were experiencing financially before SF 383.

How pharmacists, pharmacy owners and advocacy organizations helped educate Iowa lawmakers.

The political battle surrounding the legislation and what ultima