Kansas Pharmacists Fight for Oversight of Pharmacy Middlemen

Proposed legislation aims to increase transparency and stop pharmacies from filling prescriptions at a loss

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Hundreds of Kansas pharmacists recently advocated at the state Capitol for legislation that would increase oversight and transparency of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the middleman companies that negotiate drug prices between pharmacies and insurers. Pharmacists say 83% of prescriptions they fill are reimbursed at below cost, forcing them to rely on the 17% of prescriptions that pay enough to cover overhead and salaries.

Why it matters

The lack of transparency and the dominance of a few large PBM companies has put significant financial strain on independent pharmacies in Kansas, forcing many to offer additional services or sell non-pharmacy items just to stay in business. Proposed legislation aims to address these issues and prevent pharmacies from having to fill prescriptions at a loss.

The details

Senate Bill 360 would create the Kansas Consumer Prescription Protection and Accountability Act, giving the state insurance commissioner more oversight and authority over PBMs. The bill would require PBMs to charge health plans the same price as pharmacies, use the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost as a pricing reference, and set a $10.50 professional dispensing fee. Pharmacists say this transparency is crucial, as three PBMs control over 80% of all prescription claims nationwide.

  • Last week, hundreds of pharmacists advocated for the proposed legislation at the Kansas state Capitol.
  • The Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance passed SB 360 last week, but it still needs approval from the full Senate and House.

The players

Will Anderson

A Lawrence, Kansas pharmacist who carried a binder showing that 83% of prescriptions filled at his pharmacy, Orchards Drug, are reimbursed at below cost.

Mike Ryan

The pharmacy practice coordinator for Dillons, who says the proposed legislation would help address issues caused by the dominance and lack of transparency of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

Senate Bill 360

Proposed legislation that would create the Kansas Consumer Prescription Protection and Accountability Act, increasing oversight and transparency of PBMs.

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What they’re saying

“So 83% of the time when we fill a prescription for someone, when they walk in our door and we're trying to help them, we're getting paid below cost. The only way pharmacies can survive and still exist is if the 17% makes up for the 83%, and it doesn't.”

— Will Anderson, Pharmacist (Kansas Reflector)

“They serve a vital role. The problem is they became monopolistic and vertically integrated, which is costing the system a ton of money.”

— Mike Ryan, Pharmacy Practice Coordinator, Dillons (Kansas Reflector)

What’s next

The proposed legislation, Senate Bill 360, still needs approval from the full Kansas Senate and House after being passed by the Senate Committee on Financial Institutions and Insurance.

The takeaway

The lack of transparency and dominance of a few large PBM companies has put significant financial strain on independent pharmacies in Kansas, forcing many to rely on revenue from non-pharmacy items just to stay in business. The proposed legislation aims to increase oversight and transparency of PBMs, which pharmacists say is crucial to preventing them from having to fill prescriptions at a loss.