The U.S. Senate’s passage of HR 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026, could significantly reshape medication dispensing and reimbursement nationwide. A key component of the bill focuses on pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform, expanding CMS oversight and increasing transparency to hold PBMs and Part D plan sponsors accountable, potentially setting new federal standards for reimbursement and participation terms.
In the feature and Over the Counter podcast interview, Jesse Dresser explains that the legislation is intended to create a framework for CMS to define and enforce “reasonable and relevant” terms, particularly around reimbursement. He also addresses the broader challenges that led to the bill and what its implementation could mean for community pharmacies.
