APA Statement on Act 624

Update on Act 624 Court Ruling A federal judge has temporarily blocked Arkansas’s first-in-the-nation law prohibiting PBMs from owning pharmacies in our state. While this is a setback, we remain confident in the strength of our case as it advances through the appeals process.

As Governor Sanders stated: “Arkansas was the first state to force big drug middlemen called PBMs to stop inflating drug prices and manipulating the market. The PBMs sued Arkansas and a judge let them get away with it. But we’ll appeal, win in higher court, and set a new standard for the country.”

Attorney General Tim Griffin also reaffirmed his commitment: “I respect the court’s decision and plan to appeal.”

We appreciate the continued support of our state leaders and remain committed to protecting patient health and safety from obvious conflicts of interests that interfere with patient access, drive up costs and impair better healthcare outcomes for Arkansans.