ARLINGTON, Va. – A new chapter in pharmacy care and patient access is underway in Virginia. The National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) today lauded Governor Glenn Youngkin and the legislature for their efforts to enact H.B. 2610, the Save Our Pharmacies Act.
The passage and ultimate signing of this legislation is a pivotal step in the fight to bring accountability and clarity to the practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). By confronting the tactics of PBM middlemen and establishing a transparent, state-run managed care benefit, Virginia is working to protect patient access, ensure fair reimbursement, and responsibly steward taxpayer dollars.
“Governor Youngkin’s signature on this legislation, and the extraordinary willpower of Virginia’s lawmakers, mark a true inflection point for healthcare in Virginia,” said NACDS president and CEO Steven C. Anderson. “The determination to stand up for pharmacies and patients — against entrenched PBM interests — shows what’s possible when public service and vision align. This is a direct strike against the confusion and manipulation of the market-dominant middlemen that have plagued pharmacy care for too long, and a leap toward restoring trust in the Medicaid program.”
The need for this reform is urgent. Recent Federal Trade Commission data revealed that PBMs have driven up specialty generic drug costs by thousands of percent, siphoning more than $7.3 billion in excess revenue from 2017 to 2022. In Virginia, PBMs charged health plans a $3,244.09 markup per prescription for Imatinib Mesylate, a multiple sclerosis drug, and inflated Dimethyl Fumarate, a cancer medication, by $1,588.75 per prescription. These numbers underscore the unmistakable need for change and the positive impact this law will have on beneficiaries throughout the state.
“This collaborative achievement will bring needed transparency to Medicaid spending, drive efficiency for both the state and pharmacies, and most importantly, protect patient access to trusted healthcare, especially for Virginians in rural and underserved communities,” continued Anderson.
With this milestone, Virginia joins a growing chorus of states taking action to confront PBM tactics. In addition to states that have moved to a single PBM, other states have pursued aggressive PBM reforms. In 2024 alone, 24 states enacted 33 PBM reform bills, resulting in 74 policy changes aligned with NACDS priorities. Between 2021 and 2023, 131 new PBM laws were passed, totaling 164 over four years. This momentum is grounded in a bipartisan realization: unchecked PBM tactics have contributed to more than 5,800 pharmacy closures since 2018 — an average of 3.7 pharmacies each day.
NACDS stands ready to support implementation in Virginia and continue leading the charge for PBM reform nationwide.
