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Iowa Representative welcomes pharmacy benefit management reform

An Iowa lawmaker is pleased legislation that addresses rural healthcare concerns passed this session.

Representative Shannon Latham tells Brownfield pharmacy benefit management reform was one of her priorities.

“We have seen the number of independent pharmacies just drop drastically, especially in rural Iowa. And one of the reasons why is because these pharmacy benefit managers have been dictating a rate at which they can be reimbursed.”

She says the issue hits home.

“Growing up in a small town, raising my kids in a small town, still living in a small town, I know how important it is for us to keep our main street businesses, and especially our pharmacists, here for our rural residents. So I was glad to see grassroots involvement help get that across the finish line and send that one to the governor’s desk this week.”

Latham says legislation to address rural childcare and support for rural grocers didn’t make it to the governor’s desk this year, but she plans to reintroduce those bills in 2026.