Preserve Patient Access to Neighborhood Pharmacies
Studies and Data
Independent study highlights extent of PBMs' predatory practices in Florida's Medicaid program
This independent study from 3 Axis Advisors was developed using data straight from the state Agency for Health Care Administration. The analysis covers more than 350+ million prescription claims in Florida between 2012 and 2019, coupling that data with information from 100+ pharmacies. Some of the most shocking tactics the report uncovers involve the routine practice of PBMs and managed care organizations "steering" patients to affiliated pharmacies and then paying those pharmacies more than other ones for the same drug.
Legislative Leaders are Calling for Action
“Markets fail when markets get corrupted and that is what has happened here. When the middleman is allowed to own the end-retailer then the middlemen’s incentive to manage cost appropriately for the benefit of the chain is broken. And that is what has happened here.”
-- Rep. Randy Fine
“The power and control of PBMs has grown significantly over the last five to ten years. What we’re seeing is insurance companies owning PBMs and PBMs owning insurance companies. What is happening in the long run is that the price of prescriptions are going up.”
-- Sen. Gayle Harrell
“The practices PBMs use to drive up profits are complex, but the solution is simple: We need to increase access to care for all Floridians while ensuring that prescription drug savings make it to the patient and not the pockets of predatory PBMs.”
-- Rep. Jackie Toledo
When it comes to PBMs,
we all pay the price.
Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are middlemen who have strayed from their original purpose of negotiating savings for patients and now keep the profits for themselves, leaving the rest of Florida’s consumers to pay higher drug prices. PBMs use anti-competitive practices to short-circuit the free market and create health care monopolies.
These predatory tactics decrease access for patients, force neighborhood pharmacies to close down, and raise costs for everyone. We need legislation that will increase transparency and accountability on PBMs and ensure that patients are prioritized over profits.

Who do PBM predatory tactics hurt?
How Can We Fix This?
This year, the Florida Legislature is considering legislation to address these challenges. SB 1444 and HB 961 implement transparency, accountability, and free-market policies that will help preserve patient access and keep drug prices affordable.
Here are some highlights of the legislation:
- Protect the free market by prohibiting anti-competitive policies that reduce patient choice and create health care monopolies
- Eliminate the practice of steering patients to PBM-owned pharmacies, especially when it involves taxpayer dollars
- Prohibit the predatory practices that PBMs use to squeeze independent pharmacies, including post-adjudication fees, spread pricing, and cumbersome audit practices
By supporting this legislation, we can bring about concrete change in the industry and put a stop to the abuses that leave Floridians suffering.