With the commencement of the 2025 Alabama legislative session on February 5th, all eyes are on independent pharmacists from around the state who have traveled to Montgomery to engage their elected representatives and senators in support of Senate Bill 99 which is deftly designed to reform how Pharmacy Benefits Managers operate. Valley Pharmacy co-owner and President of the newly formed Alabama Independent Pharmacy Alliance Craig Moore has been on site at the State House this past week with a birds eye view of the legislative proceedings. Moore took the time to participate in an exclusive interview with the Examiner so that you, dear reader, could get the latest updates on the momentous deliberations unfolding in real time regarding the survival of independent pharmacies in Alabama.
Asked to provide a brief overview of what has transpired since he arrived in Montgomery, Moore remarked "I traveled to the State House on Tuesday, February 4th the opening day of the legislative session. Pharmacists and non pharmacists alike from around the State to include a large contingent from Chambers County invaded the State House to engage with our State legislators to tell our stories. The focus was on 1) be present and 2) engaging as many legislators as possible so that we could ask for support for our bill SB99. White Coats could be seen throughout the State House and our pharmacists really stepped up. Dr Larry Stutts is carrying our bill in the Senate and as of last count, he had 22 co sponsors."
There are currently two different PBM reform bills being proposed in the senate, one is the superior AIPA sponsored Senate Bill 99 and the other is the watered down Alabama Pharmacy Association SB93. Asked to explain the stark differences between the two bills, Moore noted "The AIPA bill was drafted by independent pharmacists for community pharmacy. We consulted pharmacists from other states that had recently had meaningful PBM legislation passed. Some of those states include: Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia and Arkansas. One of the problems with previous legislation in Alabama, was that the document looked good but was deemed unenforceable by the Department of Insurance. We took our bill to the DOI and got their feedback as to the bill's enforceability. So the biggest difference in the two bills SB99 and SB93 is that SB93 is we see the bill as weak on enforceability which leaves pharmacy in the same pickle as it always has been. The second difference is that the reimbursement models used are slightly different. Obviously, we feel that our reimbursement is better for pharmacy."
When asked about what some of the highlights have been since his arrival in Montgomery, Moore commented "Overall, I think that I speak for the others in that we have had favorable interactions. The problem that we have encountered throughout the summer and into the session is that they really don't understand the anti-competitive and predatory practices being used against the community pharmacies. Most of them have been cordial but to me, the actual presence of all of the 'white coats' every day thus far has been more powerful than I could have ever imagined."
Every single citizen has a serious stake in the grave outcome of this legislative struggle to pass meaningful, effective PBM reform so that as healthcare consumers we can continue to enjoy the rich ecosystem of independent pharmacies that has organically come into being in our state and whose fragile existence is threatened by the megalomaniacal greed of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Alabama and their downtown Birmingham medical mafia cohort. Asked about how we, as humble citizens of modest means, can support independent pharmacies in their heroic quest to preserve their precarious existence Moore replied "Call the members of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee and ask them to support SB99 sponsored by Dr. Larry Stutts."
Here are their phone numbers, we implore you to call them and insist on their support of SB99;
Banking and Insurance Committee Members
Shay Shelnutt (334) 261-0794
Jack W. Williams (334) 261-0829
Will Barfoot (334) 261-0895
Josh Carnley (334) 261-0845
Merika Coleman (334) 261-0793
Chris Elliott (334) 261-0897
Kirk Hatcher (334) 261-9001
Jay Hovey (334) 261-0865
Wes Kitchens (334) 261-0226
Steve Livingston (334) 261-0858
Randy Price (334) 261-0874
Dan Roberts (334) 261-0851
Bobby D. Singleton (334) 261-0335
Rodger M. Smitherman (334) 261-0870
J.T. (Jabo) Waggoner (334) 261-0892
In a special message for our dear readers, Moore said "We are thankful for all of the community support that we have received but we need the community to stay engaged by making constant contact with their legislators."
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