Deluzio Meets with Independent Pharmacists, Discusses Efforts to Lower Prescription Costs, Protect Patients and Small Pharmacies

ASPINWALL, PA — Last week, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) toured Towne Drugs, a local, independent pharmacy in Aspinwall. There, he met with independent pharmacists from his congressional district and across Western Pennsylvania to discuss the impacts that Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are having on both patients’ prescription bills and the pharmacies themselves. 

The Congressman heard from local pharmacists that PBMs are often involved in marking up the cost of prescription drugs for patients, pushing pricier medications, and even limiting where patients can fill their prescriptions. Many meeting participants shared stories about how PBMs frequently steer customers toward their own chain pharmacies—hurting the bottom lines of independent pharmacies and to the inconvenience of many customers.

“I will always fight back against big corporations trying to rip off the American people and trying to play games with people’s healthcare,” said Congressman Deluzio. "I am glad I had a chance to hear directly from local, independent pharmacists about the impacts that Pharmacy Benefit Managers have both on their patients and their own ability to conduct business in our communities. We have to stand strong against out-of-control corporate power to lower healthcare costs and protect our small businesses.” 

“We are so grateful that Congressman Deluzio took time out of his busy schedule so that our community pharmacists could talk with him about the need for PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) reform at the federal level,” said Jon Akanowicz, RPh, Co-Owner of Towne Drugs Pharmacy in Aspinwall. “Currently the way pharmacies are reimbursed is not regulated, causing community pharmacies to close at a record rate, ultimately limiting access to medications for Pennsylvanians.” 

Congressman Deluzio is a cosponsor of the HELP Copays Act and the PATIENT Act. The HELP Copays Act would protect patients from harmful insurance and Pharmacy Benefit Manager practices that raise patient out-of-pocket drug costs, and the PATIENT Act would expand hospital price transparency requirements and establish additional reporting requirements with respect to prescription drugs and PBMs.   

Photos from the event are available to the media here. 

###