Governor Ivey signs Community Pharmacy Relief Act into law in Alabama

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Governor Kay Ivey has signed Senate Bill 252, known as the Community Pharmacy Relief Act, into law. The legislation aims to curb the influence of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), whose business practices have been blamed for the closure of 10 community pharmacies in Alabama since the start of 2025. These closures were attributed to PBMs reimbursing pharmacies at unsustainably low rates, sometimes below the cost of dispensing medications.

The Alabama Pharmacy Association (APA) expressed gratitude to Governor Ivey, the Alabama Legislature, and the pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and patients who rallied in support of the bill. "We believe that several bottom-up movements this year were the reason for the success of SB252," said APA Chief Executive Officer Louise Jones. She highlighted the Pharmacy Walkout for PBM Reform, which saw participation from over 120 pharmacies, as a pivotal event that spurred public action.

• Pharmacy benefit manager reform aimed at preserving local pharmacies goes to Governor
• Alabama Senate approves pharmacy benefit manager reform

The bill passed unanimously in both the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives. Senator Billy Beasley, the bill's sponsor and a retired pharmacist, remarked, "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."

Representative Philip Rigsby, who championed the bill in the House and is an independent pharmacist, emphasized the broader impact of the legislation. "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," Rigsby said.

The APA, a nonprofit professional organization with over 3,000 members, has been a leading advocate for the bill. Established in 1881, it is the oldest professional pharmacy organization in Alabama, representing all practices of pharmacy and committed to advancing the profession and patient care.