Congress Stalls on PBM Reforms as Trump Vows to Eliminate 'Middlemen'

Proposed legislation to regulate pharmacy benefit managers is delayed, raising questions about future drug pricing reform efforts.

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which control much of the prescription drug supply chain, face criticism for driving up costs and squeezing pharmacy reimbursements.
President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to eliminate PBMs, describing them as profit-driven middlemen who inflate drug prices without adding value.
The Republican-led House removed PBM reform provisions from a government funding bill, which would have addressed spread pricing and required greater transparency in Medicaid and Medicare programs.
Proposed reforms, supported by bipartisan lawmakers, aim to pass savings directly to patients and ensure fair pharmacy reimbursements, potentially saving taxpayers $1 billion over a decade.
Trump's healthcare team, including RFK Jr. and Dr. Mehmet Oz, has prioritized PBM reforms, but Congress may act first, complicating Trump's ability to claim credit for addressing drug pricing issues.