NCPA Supports Pharmacy Bills Being Marked Up in House Committees Today

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (May 21, 2026) - The National Community Pharmacists Association supports two major pharmacy-related bills being considered today by committees in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The PBM Kickback Prohibition Act (H.R. 7895), introduced by Rep. Rick Allen (R-Ga.), is being marked up by the House Committee on Education and the Workforce in a hearing starting at 10:15 a.m. ET. This bill would prohibit pharmacy benefit managers from paying referral fees or kickbacks to an intermediary (like a broker) in exchange for directing an insurer or employer health plan to the PBM. You can watch that markup here.

"This scheme between PBMs and some brokers is an indefensible, pay-to-play racket," says NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey, pharmacist, MBA. "It's a clear conflict of interest that makes prescriptions less affordable and it must be eliminated. We're glad the Committee on Education and the Workforce is moving to prohibit these kickbacks, and that President Trump supports eliminating them as well. NCPA is an eager partner in pushing this policy through the legislative process so it can soon be signed into law."

Additionally, the Main Street Pharmacy Access Act (H.R. 3164), which was formerly titled the Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacists Services (ECAPS) Act, is being marked up by the House Committee on Ways and Means in a hearing starting at 9 a.m. ET. You can watch that markup here. Introduced by Reps. Adrian Smith (R-Neb.) and Brad Schneider (D-Ill.) and supported by dozens of bipartisan cosponsors, this legislation would ensure Medicare beneficiaries can easily access health care services by authorizing pharmacists to test and treat COVID-19, flu, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and strep throat. Importantly, it would establish direct reimbursement through Medicare Part B in states that allow for these pharmacist services. This was among the bipartisan bills independent pharmacy owners and managers advocated for during NCPA's Congressional Pharmacy Fly-In, which was held in April.

"The Main Street Pharmacy Access Act highlights the important role that pharmacy teams play in communities across the country, filling primary care gaps and providing care beyond the dispensing of critical medications," Hoey says. "NCPA is grateful to the Ways and Means Committee for starting the legislative actions needed to get the bill across the finish line, and strongly supports its passage."

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<_u53a_p>Founded in 1898, the National Community Pharmacists Association is the voice for the community pharmacist, representing over 18,900 pharmacies that employ more than 235,000 individuals nationwide. Community pharmacies are rooted in the communities where they are located and are among America's most accessible health care providers. To learn more, visit www.ncpa.org.