HIXSON, Tenn. — A Hixson pharmacist says CVS is now moving into “the next phase” of its fight against Tennessee’s new pharmacy law.
After warning lawmakers it could close stores in Tennessee, CVS is now suing the state over legislation targeting pharmacy benefit managers, known as PBMs.
As we reported, the law signed by Governor Bill Lee would restrict PBM-owned pharmacies in Tennessee.
File photo: Getty Images.
CVS recently backed away from earlier warnings that all of its Tennessee stores could close if the measure became law.
Now, the company says stores will remain open while the lawsuit moves through court.
Read more: Tennessee bans PBMs from owning pharmacies: What will this mean for CVS locations?
Robbie Eskridge, director of pharmacy at Hitchcock Family Pharmacy in Hixson, says he believes the company never intended to shut down locations.
“I truthfully felt that CVS was bluffing about the closing,” Eskridge said.
He says the lawsuit appears aimed at delaying enforcement.
“They’re just going to tie it up in courts and make it go on for who knows how long,” he said.
PBMs act as middlemen between insurance companies, drug manufacturers and pharmacies.
Critics argue they drive up prescription prices and hurt independent pharmacies.
CVS has defended the current system and says Tennessee lawmakers are putting politics ahead of patients.
Eskridge disagrees.
“This is a national pharmacy reform that needs to happen,” he said.
He says many customers worried about losing access to medications should know other pharmacies could absorb patients if closures ever happened.
“The people that are there are great,” he said about CVS employees. “But this decision is CVS making.”
Eskridge also says he expects the legal battle to prevent immediate changes from taking effect.
“I don’t think it’s going to fully go through until all this lawsuit stuff is figured out,” he said.
Several other states have also pursued laws aimed at limiting PBMs, leading to similar court fights.
Read the full lawsuit below:
Depend on us to keep you posted.