Disrespecting the legislature - and every Alabamian they represent

by Courtney Wood

Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) were supposed to lower prices and make care easier. Instead, they’ve created a broken system by blocking patient choice, hiking up costs, and crushing local pharmacies under unfair rules. They don’t treat patients. They don’t fill prescriptions. They don’t improve care. They just take a cut and leave everyone to deal with the fallout.

Thus, independent pharmacies across Alabama teamed up to create the Alabama Independent Pharmacy Alliance (AIPA) to end the madness once and for all. Alabama’s independent pharmacies are trusted, loyal, and built into the fabric of our communities. They know your name. They answer your questions. Yet, pharmacies are closing at an alarming rate of one per week in Alabama. So, during the 2025 session those pharmacies took a stand and fought like David against Goliath to save patient access and choice. In April, Alabama passed the Community Pharmacy Relief Act (SB252). This bipartisan legislation was crafted to curb unscrupulous PBM practices and preserve rural healthcare access for our community pharmacies statewide.

The bill passed the Senate 33-0 and the House 103-0. In today’s political climate, those statistics are unheard of. Every committee meeting and floor vote proved that everyone in Alabama’s legislature was in one accord. It was truly a beautiful thing to witness the unity of our legislature during the passage of this bill. While there was still give and take, the consensus was clear. Something had to be done. Session could not end without PBM reform in Alabama. Our elected officials held true to their oaths of representing the people they were chosen to serve. The bill was signed into law by Governor Ivey.

In recent weeks, many reports have surfaced from our independent pharmacies that prove PBMs in Alabama are choosing to disregard the law.When PBMs ignore SB252, they aren’t just breaking a rule—they are showing blatant disrespect for every elected official who worked to protect patients and local pharmacies. This bill didn’t barely pass—it passed unanimously. That means Democrats and Republicans, rural and urban lawmakers, every single one agreed it was the right thing to do. PBMs know this. They’ve read the bill. They’ve seen the headlines. Yet, some are still acting like they’re above the law—as if the time, efforts, and votes of Alabama’s lawmakers don’t matter. That’s not just a legal issue. It’s a slap in the face to the legislative process itself. These PBMs are sending a message that even when every elected official in Alabama comes together to protect small-town pharmacies and patients, they can still do whatever they want.That’s dangerous.

If powerful corporations can ignore a law passed with 100% support from the House and Senate, what message does that send about the power of the people’s voice? When PBMs defy SB252, they’re not just breaking the law. They’re saying the voices of Alabama citizens—spoken through their elected lawmakers—don’t matter. We cannot allow that to stand. Let’s be clear… The healthcare system doesn’t need middlemen. It needs frontline providers. It needs our independent pharmacies. It’s time for the state to enforce the law as written. Alabama’s patients, pharmacies, and democracy deserve nothing less.

Courtney Wood is a Founders Board Member of AIPA. She has worked serving her community in independent pharmacy for 19 years. She hopes that enlightening those around her will pave the way to provide hope for our future pharmacists and their careers.