Pharmacists Fight Back [in Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans Act]

HR6610, titled the "Pharmacists Fight Back [in Federal Employee Health Benefit Plans Act]," was introduced in the House of Representatives on December 11, 2025, and subsequently referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. This marks an early stage in the legislative process, indicating that the bill has been formally introduced and assigned to a committee for initial review and consideration. There have been no further actions since its introduction. The bill's primary mechanism involves amending chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to impose new requirements on health benefit plans contracted or approved by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Specifically, it mandates that any pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) administering prescription drug benefits for these plans must reimburse in-network pharmacies based on the national average drug acquisition cost (NADAC) plus a professional dispensing fee. It also requires PBMs to apply manufacturer rebates at the point of sale, reducing the coinsurance or copayment owed by the individual. The bill does not authorize or appropriate any specific funding amounts; instead, it establishes regulatory requirements for PBMs and health plans operating within the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) Program. Structural winners, if this bill were to pass, would primarily be independent and chain pharmacies that contract with FEHB plans, as they would receive more standardized and potentially higher reimbursement rates for prescription drugs and dispensing fees. This could improve their profit margins on FEHB prescriptions. Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) could face reduced profitability or altered business models due to the mandated reimbursement structures and point-of-sale rebate requirements, which could impact their current revenue streams from spread pricing and rebate retention. The bill does not name specific companies, but its provisions would affect all PBMs and pharmacies participating in the FEHB program. Given its recent introduction on December 11, 2025, and referral to committee, HR6610 is in the very early stages of the legislative process. The next steps would involve committee hearings, potential markups, and a vote within the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. If it passes committee, it would then proceed to a vote by the full House of Representatives. There is no set timeline for these actions.