Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) have teamed up to introduce a bill aimed at breaking up healthcare conglomerates. The legislation would force companies like CVS Health, Cigna, and UnitedHealth to sell their pharmacy divisions within three years.
The bill targets the consolidation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), health insurers, and retail pharmacies under single corporate umbrellas. Lawmakers argue this structure drives up drug prices and undermines competition, harming patients and small businesses.
“PBMs have enriched themselves at the expense of patients,” Warren said. Hawley added, “These companies are out of control, and it’s time to break them up to start putting patients first.”
The three largest PBMs — CVS Caremark, Cigna’s Express Scripts, and UnitedHealth’s Optum Rx — control the majority of the prescription drug market, handling 80% of prescriptions nationwide. Critics say this allows them to steer patients toward their own pharmacies, increasing costs and limiting choice.
PBM representatives argue the current system ensures convenience and affordability. CVS warned that the proposed legislation could lead to higher drug prices while benefiting pharmaceutical companies.
This bipartisan effort represents a major push to reform the prescription drug market and healthcare system. With significant public frustration over rising costs, lawmakers hope to advance a solution that prioritizes transparency and competition.
