Washington, D.C., April 29, 2025 – This month, Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed into law HB 1150, a bill that prohibits any and all pharmacies owned by or affiliated with a pharmacy benefit manager (“PBM”) from receiving a permit for the retail sale of drugs or medicines in Arkansas. The prohibition created by the new law will apply to traditional brick-and-mortar retail pharmacies and specialty and mail-order pharmacies, including those operating outside the state that serve Arkansas residents. During the legislative process, The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC) shared its concerns with the state legislature and urged the Governor to veto HB 1150. In response to the bill being signed into law, ERIC issued the statement below that can be attributed to Dillon Clair, ERIC Director of State Advocacy.
“ERIC shares many of the frustrations regarding anti-competitive practices by PBMs and the lack of much needed price transparency. We continue to push Congress to enact comprehensive PBM reforms this year. However, the Arkansas law could jeopardize Arkansans’ access to both physical pharmacy locations and mail-order delivery pharmacies, causing patients to travel farther and pay more for medicines.
“As ERIC evaluates this law and assesses the implications for its member companies, we will consider all possibilities to promote access and affordability for the employees and families who count on employer-sponsored health benefits.”