MONTGOMERY, Ala. – New polling data obtained by Alabama Daily News shows Republican voters in Alabama aren’t too keen on proposals to support struggling pharmacies by levying fees on prescription transactions through pharmacy benefit managers, or PBMs.
Multiple bills currently under consideration in the Alabama Legislature would mandate that PBMs, third-party groups that control drug benefits for insurers, reimburse pharmacists for the cost of drugs they sell, plus an at least $10.64 dispensing fee for each prescription filled. Pharmacists from around the state say they are at risk of going out of business due to PBMs not adequately compensating them for drug costs.
Opponents of the bills argue that those increased costs will eventually be passed on to businesses and their employees. That was the framing of one of the questions posed to respondents in the recent poll commissioned by the Business Council of Alabama, one of the chief opponents of the PBM bills.
According to the poll, a full 79% of Republican voters said they oppose legislation mandating a new prescription fee that could increase costs for businesses and their employees, while 21% said they’d support it.
When told the legislation could cost employers $347 million each year, an estimate BCA gleaned from state finance records, that opposition grew to 84%.
Those surveyed said the issue of health care is important to them, with 66% saying very important and 31% saying somewhat important. When asked what their top health care priority is, 69% said lowering the cost of health care and prescription drugs.
There are two PBM bills currently under consideration in the Senate. Senate Bill 93 from Sen. Andrew Jones, R-Centre, ties the fee to one paid by Medicare, currently $10.64 per prescription. Senate Bill 99, by Sen. Larry Stutts, R-Tuscumbia, has the $10.64 fee, plus an additional 2% of cost or $25, whichever is less.
A public hearing was held on the bills last month, but no committee vote has been taken.
The poll was conducted by Nick Thompson with Arc Insights. It surveyed 504 likely Republican voters through mixed-mode polling March 5 and 6 with a margin of error of 4.38%.
See the full topline results here: FINAL RESULTS AL GOP Primary PBM Survey Toplines.