Independent pharmacists from across Mississippi are taking their concerns to the steps of the Capitol building.
Thursday, Sav-Mor Drugs and Gifts owners, pharmacist Fair Jones, and husband, Taylor, of Grenada will join dozens of independent pharmacists in Jackson as they fight for hometown pharmacies statewide.
“I will be at the Capitol tomorrow standing alongside other independent pharmacists and owners and families pleading with the MS House of Representatives to pass SB2677,” Fair said.
The problem: PBMs – Pharmacy Benefit Managers, third party companies that function as intermediaries between insurance providers and pharmaceutical manufacturers.
The solution: Passage of House Bill, a bill that was introduced in the 2025 Mississippi Legislative session that aims to regulate drug pricing. The bill was passed by the House on Jan 23, and referred to the Senate on Jan 24.
“We’ve shown you the numbers,” Fair said in a Facebook post Monday. “We’ve shown you the dollars. We’ve shown you the unfairness. We’ve shown you how we are struggling. But your silence is deafening. If you won’t listen to those things, maybe you will listen to the people who have experienced how an independent pharmacy has helped them outside of filling prescriptions. Maybe you will listen to others who say we hold value and that we are vital to our communities. Maybe! We are begging you to help us. Please allow SB2677 to pass out of committee. Please stop holding our bill hostage and using it as a pawn in your politics game. Please! Our livelihoods and the well being of the people we care for are in the balance.
Key provisions of HB 1123 include:
• Drug manufacturer reports: Requires drug manufacturers to report wholesale acquisition costs to the Board of Pharmacy
• Pharmacy benefit manager reports: Requires pharmacy benefit managers to report to the Board of Pharmacy
• Health insurer reports: Requires health insurers to report prescription drug information to the Board of Pharmacy
• Board of Pharmacy website: Requires the Board of Pharmacy to create a website that publishes information related to the act
• Board of Pharmacy investigations: Authorizes the Board of Pharmacy to investigate, issue subpoenas, conduct audits, and impose penalties for violations
Below is a press release issued by Speaker of the House Jason White’s office Tuesday evening titled: “House Continues to Prioritize PBM Reform”:
Today, the Speaker’s Office continued meeting with independent pharmacists, the Board of Pharmacy, and the business community to work out an agreement that would provide for much needed and overdue support for independent pharmacists while also protecting employers and consumers. PBM reform has been a priority in the House for many years. We have led the charge on numerous pieces of PBM legislation that were never able to make it all the way through the legislative process, but the time is now.
This summer, the House named several Select Committees to focus on specific priority areas, Prescription Drugs being one of them. As a result of the hearings, research, and discussions in that Select Committee and the many years of working on PBM reform, the House presented HB 1123 this session, which intends to provide the necessary transparency that has been demanded from the pharmacist community. The Senate also came forward with its approach to PBM reform in SB 2677.
The House is actively working with our Senate counterparts to assemble the most meaningful and impactful legislation to reform the multi-faceted prescription drug industry. It is a priority in the House of Representatives to support independent pharmacists who are such an essential part of Mississippi’s communities and protect consumers from heightened drug costs at the checkout line, while also guarding against increased health insurance and premium prices for our state’s businesses and citizens. I thank my personal pharmacist, David Hudson, who runs an independent pharmacy in my hometown of Kosciusko. He has a unique perspective in that he is not only an independent pharmacist but also serves on the State Board of Pharmacy—his expertise and perspective has been invaluable in creating a solution. I also want to thank Representative Hank Zuber and Senator Hob Bryan for their dedication to getting PBM reform done this session while creating a win-win for independent pharmacists and Mississippi businesses.
