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Continued Action Required: Keep Advocating for SB 966 (Wiener) as the Bill will be Heard Next in the Assembly Health & Assembly Judiciary Committees

As a pharmacy professional and your constituent, I am reaching out to express my strong support for Senate Bill 966 (SB 966), introduced by Senator Scott Wiener. This bill is crucial in addressing the pressing issue of escalating healthcare costs, particularly exacerbated by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in our state. Over the last decade or so, PBMs have become quite aggressive in their business practices and seem to be trying to put independent pharmacies out of business.

In my role as a frontline healthcare provider, I witness daily the challenges faced by patients due to rising prescription drug costs. PBMs, operating with no oversight in California, have exploited their position in the pharmaceutical industry, leading to inflated drug prices and hindering patient access to essential medications.

SB 966 presents a vital opportunity to rectify these injustices. By mandating that PBMs be licensed by the California Department of Insurance and implementing stringent regulations to curb their anticompetitive practices, ensuring greater transparency and accountability in the pharmaceutical supply chain. Furthermore, unchecked PBMs not only burden patients financially but also jeopardize the viability of small and independent pharmacies like mine. When independent pharmacies close, patients lose access to healthcare providers in their community.

SB 966 offers comprehensive solutions to these pressing issues by prohibiting spread pricing, ensuring the pass-through of negotiated drug rebates to payers or patients, and outlawing deceptive practices by PBMs. Additionally, the bill safeguards patient choice by prohibiting PBMs from steering patients to affiliated pharmacies, allowing patients to select the in-network pharmacy that best meets their needs. I urge you to stand with me and support SB 966. By supporting this legislation, you demonstrate your commitment to the well-being of Californians and the advancement of a fair and equitable healthcare system.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to your support of SB 966 and the positive impact it will have on the health and prosperity of our state.

Continued Action Required: Keep Advocating for SB 966 (Wiener) as the Bill will be Heard Next in the Assembly Health & Assembly Judiciary Committees (Owners)

Continued Action Required: Keep Advocating for SB 966 (Wiener) as the Bill will be Heard Next in the Assembly Health & Assembly Judiciary Committees

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Dear Office Holder (names will be automatically added on each email),