OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A proposal for increased regulation and transparency of pharmacy benefit managers — which work as intermediaries between employers that offer health insurance and pharmacies — has been delayed from its scheduled hearing.
Owasso Republican Rep. David Derby was expected to introduce his bill Monday to an appropriations subcommittee to give the State Board of Pharmacy oversight over PBM companies' licenses. Derby says he'll bring it up Tuesday in the House Public Health Committee.
Derby says the companies often require customers to use mail-order pharmacies based outside Oklahoma and can put customers at risk when they operate outside Oklahoma law for filling or changing prescriptions.
PBMs say they safely save people and states millions of dollars and that the pharmacy board's members have a conflict of interest.