- Pasha Healthcare
- Posts
- 💊 PBMs Get the Boot, 🧑⚕️ Oz Takes Over CMS, and 🚨 States Crack Down — Q2 Healthcare Shakeups You Can’t Ignore
💊 PBMs Get the Boot, 🧑⚕️ Oz Takes Over CMS, and 🚨 States Crack Down — Q2 Healthcare Shakeups You Can’t Ignore
New quarter, new rules. From Arkansas banning pharmacy giants to Dr. Oz shaking things up at CMS, the healthcare world’s getting a serious policy glow-up.
Arkansas Draws the Line ✋🏻 on PBM-Owned Pharmacies
Arkansas has passed a first-of-its-kind law banning pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies within the state.
Key Points
Arkansas is the first state to ban PBMs from owning or operating pharmacies.
Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed HB1150 into law on April 16, 2025.
CVS warned the law could shut down 23 Arkansas pharmacies and raise costs statewide.
Thirty-nine state attorneys general have urged Congress to pass a similar federal ban.
Why It Matters
This sets a national precedent likely to fuel broader legislative momentum, intensifying scrutiny of PBMs’ vertical integration. States may increasingly look to curb consolidation blamed for pharmacy closures and inflated drug prices—especially in rural areas where access is already fragile.
Takeaway
Healthcare stakeholders should monitor PBM-related legislation closely as regulatory fragmentation increases, potentially impacting service models, competition, and drug pricing strategies.