FMI Applauds Final Passage of Bipartisan Funding Package with Landmark PBM Reforms

Arlington, VA - Today, FMI - The Food Industry Association applauded final passage of H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026, by a 217-214 vote, securing the most consequential pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reforms to date and representing a major step forward for patients, pharmacies, employers and the communities they serve.

FMI Chief Public Policy Officer Jennifer Hatcher stated, "These bipartisan reforms represent a major step towards lower costs, better care and less red tape in our pharmacies. FMI and our members operating nearly 12,000 supermarket pharmacies look forward to working with CMS to define and enforce 'reasonable and relevant' PBM contract terms that benefit customers."

Hatcher continued, "We thank House and Senate leadership and the bipartisan group of pharmacy champions whose persistence and dedication made these reforms possible, particularly in an exceptionally challenging political environment. These reforms reflect years of sustained advocacy and bipartisan work to address PBM practices that have increasingly undermined pharmacy viability and patient access."

At the center of the PBM overhaul is a landmark Medicare Part D reform requiring the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to finally define what constitutes "reasonable and relevant" PBM contract terms for pharmacies and to establish a formal appeals process for pharmacies to challenge unfair or non-compliant terms. This provides a clear enforcement mechanism to address PBMs' predatory, take-it-or-leave-it contracting practices that have left pharmacies with no meaningful ability to negotiate or dispute egregious terms, and represents one of FMI's most significant PBM policy priorities.

The package also includes broader PBM transparency and compensation reforms that will benefit FMI members as health plan sponsors and employers. These provisions increase visibility into PBM revenue streams, rebate practices, and payment structures, helping ensure PBMs are operating to support lower costs for patients and employers rather than prioritizing their own profits.

These reforms come at a critical moment for patient access to pharmacy care. Supermarket pharmacies are among the most accessible health care touchpoints in the country, and the reforms enacted today will help address mounting financial pressure created by PBM contracting and reimbursement practices that no pharmacy - large or small - can sustainably absorb.

Hatcher concluded, "While additional work remains, today's action represents a significant step forward. FMI appreciates Congress for seizing this opportunity and looks forward to continued engagement to ensure these reforms are implemented effectively and that patient access to pharmacy care remains strong for years to come."