07/23/2026
UPDATE: Yesterday marked an important step forward for independent pharmacies and the patients we serve.
The U.S. House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee approved (or "marked up") the Pharmacists Fight Back in Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans Act. We attended the press conference announcing this legislation in December 2025.
Who would this bill affect?
If enacted, it would apply to Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) plans—the health insurance program that covers millions of federal employees, retirees, and their families.
The bill aims to bring greater transparency to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and establish fairer reimbursement practices for pharmacies serving FEHB beneficiaries. While that may sound like a narrow change, we believe it's a model for broader federal PBM reforms in the future.
Across the country, independent pharmacies continue to close at an alarming rate, often because reimbursement from PBMs is below the cost of dispensing medications. Every pharmacy that closes means fewer healthcare options, longer drives, and reduced access to personalized care for patients.
At Brashear's Pharmacy, we're encouraged to see Congress continuing to examine PBM practices and consider reforms that support patient access to local, independent pharmacies. While this bill is just one step—and it affects a specific group of insurance plans—it represents meaningful progress and could help pave the way for additional reforms that benefit more patients in the future.
We'll continue advocating for policies that keep local, personalized healthcare available here in Citrus County.
Thank you for your continued support!