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An Editorial Opinion of The Demopolis Times

The Community Pharmacy Relief Act was signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey after it was passed by both houses.

The new law will limit the power of the pharmacy middlemen known as Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). Alabama’s community pharmacies have been closing at an alarming rate, with 10 closing just since the beginning of 2025 due to the business practices of PBMs which reimbursed community pharmacies at unsustainably low rates, sometimes below their cost of dispensing a medication,” said State Sen. Billy Beasley. “This has been a win for the people of Alabama. It’s been a huge win for the community pharmacists in the state of Alabama who just want to be able to go to work, make a living and take care of their patients.”

“It’s a big win for not only pharmacies that are able to stay open and take care of those patients, but a big win for Alabamians because they can continue to go to that pharmacy that’s taken care of generations,” State Rep. Phillip Rigsby said.

We applaud the state for trying to help level the playing field between the pharmaceutical companies and our local pharmacists. Local pharmacies are important to our community. They can provide services that larger drugstore chains will not provide, and it will help to keep our local residents safe.