Sept. 26, 2023

U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (L) addresses PBM reform efforts in Congress as APRx Board Chairman Joe Ochoa (C) and VP of Government Affairs Michael Wright listen in.

APRx Leaders Deliver Powerful Message During Impactful Visits with Congress

American Pharmacies advocacy leaders made a big impression in Washington, D.C. last week, delivering a vital message on the urgency of PBM reform in meetings with 23 congressional offices.

Members from the American Pharmacies Federal Advocacy Advisory Panel ― including three APRx Board members ― blanketed U.S. House and Senate offices last Wednesday to deepen their congressional connections and press the need for passing significant PBM reforms this year. The APRx contingent included Board Chairman Joe Ochoa of Texas, Board members Steve Hoffart of Texas and Grant Brown of Michigan, APrx member-owners Theresa Dickinson of Arizona, Jeffrey Gross of California, John HIckman of Texas, Deb Keaveny of Minnesota, Micah Lansford of New Mexico and Russell Pelzel of Texas.

In addition to the office visits, the fly-in also included a private luncheon with Rep. Buddy Carter of Georgia ― the leading advocate for independent pharmacy in Congress ― and a small dinner with Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas, a frequent co-sponsor of Carter's legislation.

Specific asks included urging House members to sign on as co-authors of HR 5378 (The Lower Costs, More Transparency Act), a vital bill that combines legislation approved by three different House committees; and asking Senators to sign on in support of MEPA, The Modernizing & Ensuring PBM Accountability Act.

The luncheon wth Carter was the highlight of the interactions. VP of Government Affairs Michael Wright introduced the 32-year independent pharmacy owner as the "Godfather of Pharmacy." The charismatic congressman delivered entertaining and encouraging remarks on the prospects of PBM reforms currently working through the House and he stressed the urgency of passing reforms this year.

Carter said it is critical to pass meaningful PBM legislation "before things turn crazy next year," referring to the partisanship and paralysis that creeps into a presidential campaign year. He also offered a tongue-in-cheek insight on who he would support in the 2024 presidential election: "I'd like to see Teddy Roosevelt run again," he quipped, referring to the early 20th Century president who took on the railroad, banking and Standard Oil monopolies.

Another highlight was the visit with Rep. Diana Harshbarger of Tennessee, the House's only other pharmacist. Harshbarger, who owns Premier Pharmacy in Kingsport, TN, was genuinely enthused in welcoming our pharmacy crowd to her office and she was both humorous and passionate in expressing her drive to get PBM reforms passed this session. 

"Now is the time and we'll do everything in our power to get it accomplished this year." Harshbarger said.

(L-R): Rep. Diana Harshbarger, APRx Board member Grant Brown of Michigan, lobbyist Steven Irizarry, and Board member Steve Hoffart of Texas.

Congressional Offices Visited

Arizona

Sen. Mark Kelly (D)

Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I)

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D)

California

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D)

Sen. Alex Padilla (D)

Rep. Ted Lieu (D)

Michigan

Sen. Gary Peters(D)

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D)

Rep. Tim Walberg (R)

Minnesota

Sen. Klobuchar (D)

Sen. Tina Smith (D)

Rep. Tom Emmer (R)

New Mexico

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D)

Sen. Ben Ray Lujan (D)

Texas

Sen. John Cornyn (R)

Rep. Mike Burgess (R)

Rep. Jake Ellzey (R)

Rep. Lance Gooden (R)

Rep. Vincente Gonzalez (D)

Rep. Keith Self (R)

Tennessee

Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R)

West Virginia

Rep. Alex Mooney (R)

(L-R): Ruth McDonald, senior policy advisor for Rep. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, APRx General Counsel Miguel Rodriguez and APRx member-owner Deb

 Keaveny of Minnesota.

Important Takeaways from the Meetings

• The preparation, relationships and strategic insights provided by our staff and Roberti Global, our Washington lobby firm, were instrumental to the success of our visits. In addition to our chief lobbyist, Steven Irizarry, we were assisted by Roberti chairman and co-founder Vin Roberti and Senior Advisor Tim McKone.

• The American Pharmacies members who attended all did an admirable job in their meetings. They were poised, professional and effective in getting across their key talking points and in asking for support for PBM reforms. They were well-received by all the members and staffers we saw.

• We are fortunate to have passionate advocates like Carter and Harshbarger fighting hard for us in Washington.

• Congressional awareness and concern about PBMs and their negative impacts has improved considerably. Support for PBM transparency and reform is bipartisan and broad-based across both chambers, and there is a real sense of urgency on passing reforms in 2023. With what we learned in our office visits and seeing Roberti Global in action up close, we have cause to be very hopeful the remainder of this year. 

• We are extremely pleased with the success of this effort, which strengthened our support with key members and identified new allies we can call on. We will continue to build on and improve this important grassroots event, which is not about public relations, but about establishing real and productive relationships.

• These types of grassroots outreaches are critical and many more American Pharmacies members must get involved, both in Washington and at home.

VP of Government Affairs Michael Wright, who was the driving force behind the fly-in, was beyond pleased with the performance of the APRx contingent and with the outcomes of the many congressional meetings.

"I could not be prouder of how our pharmacist members performed in the bright lights of Washington," Wright said. "They all were highly effective in telling their individual stories and in sharing real-life impacts of PBM abuses on them and their patients."

Wright was also highly complimentary of Roberti Global's professionalism and support during the event.

"We have an outstanding partner in Roberti Global," Wright said. "Their connections, influence and talent are critical in our federal efforts. It was a treat to see their excellence in action."

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