NCPA Statement on Drug Pricing Executive Order

Key Takeaways

President Trump's executive order targets drug price reduction by addressing middlemen and enhancing PBM transparency.
The National Community Pharmacists Association supports efforts to curb PBMs' anticompetitive practices affecting independent pharmacies.
PBMs' actions, such as underpaying pharmacies and excessive audits, increase prescription costs and limit consumer access.
Swift action through executive orders, regulation, or legislation is advocated to mitigate PBMs' influence.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (April 16, 2025) – President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order that aims to lower drug prices and includes provisions to reevaluate the role of middlemen in the supply chain and improve transparency into pharmacy benefit managers. The National Community Pharmacists Association issued the following statement reacting to the order:

“While the devil will be in the details and in the implementation, we are optimistic that the administration is making moves to address PBMs. President Trump has talked several times about the need to rein them in, and we’re pleased he’s looking to do so. Independent community pharmacies are competing against a deck that is stacked against them by PBMs who want to stomp out their competition through anticompetitive tactics like paying the pharmacy below its cost to buy drugs and overzealous audits. Ultimately these henchmen for Big Insurance increase prescription costs and reduce access for consumers. For these pharmacies and the millions of patients who rely on them, the quicker PBMs can be brought to heel, the better, whether through executive orders, regulation, PBM reform legislation, or a combination of actions.”

To read the executive order, click here.

To read a fact sheet about the president’s action, click here.