Chairman Guthrie Celebrates Long-Awaited PBM Reform Being Signed into Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - For years, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce has been committed to cracking down on the practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that don't benefit patients. This week, President Trump signed into law these long-awaited and historic reforms for prescription drug middlemen in H.R. 7148, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026.

Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02), Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, issued the following statement on the importance of this significant piece of legislation when it comes to lowering costs at the pharmacy counter:

"Over the past few years, this Committee has led on many legislative solutions which work to continue delivering affordable and high-quality health care for the American people and crack down on predatory practices of PBMs. I was pleased to see those solutions signed into law by President Trump," said Chairman Guthrie. "These policies increase transparency at the pharmacy counter and hold PBMs accountable, which will result in real savings for American patients. I am proud that this Committee has played such a crucial role in shaping a more affordable and transparent health care system. I am grateful to President Trump and my colleagues for their commitment to lowering the cost of care for all American patients."

The legislation included a myriad of PBM reforms that the Committee has been working on furthering for several years. Included in the package were PBM reforms that:

• Increase transparency and protect American patients and businesses from getting ripped off by questionable drug pricing and rebate manipulation tactics;
• Delink the price of Medicare Part D drugs from a PBM's compensation, instead paying a flat fee to middlemen and ensuring rebates are passed through to plan sponsors; and
• Safeguard independent pharmacies and seniors' access to medications by codifying requirements that Medicare Part D plan sponsors contract with any willing pharmacy-not just the pharmacy owned by their insurance conglomerate.

The first policy highlighted in President Trump's new health care agenda, The Great Healthcare Plan, is a commitment to lowering prescription drug prices.

###