Overview

• Two CalMatters guest essays present opposing views on Senate Bill 41, with a CVS specialty pharmacist urging caution and an independent pharmacy owner calling for swift passage.
• Supporters of SB 41 say PBMs underpay pharmacies and drive closures, citing Federal Trade Commission findings and reporting losses on individual prescriptions.
• An opposing pharmacist argues the bill would curb key PBM negotiating tools used to secure lower prices from drug manufacturers, risking higher patient costs.
• California adopted new prescription drug transparency rules earlier this year, and Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar PBM bill last year after saying more data was needed.
• Closures of independent and chain pharmacies are described as creating pharmacy deserts that disproportionately affect rural and predominantly Black and Latino communities.