Hours before the president’s State of the Union address on Tuesday, Aspinwall pharmacy owner Jonathan Akanowicz sat alongside U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio to advocate for reforms they say would rein in national monopolies and protect independent pharmacists from being squeezed out of the market.
“We’re looking for a level playing field … and what we’re also looking for is fair reimbursement, cost of the medication, plus a reasonable dispense fee,” said Akanowicz, who co-owns the Towne Drugs on Commercial Avenue with his father, Robert.
Deluzio, D-Fox Chapel, announced Tuesday morning that Akanowicz would be his guest at State of the Union, hoping his presence would bring attention to an ongoing fight to break the power of Pharmacy Benefit Managers, which serve as middlemen in prescription drug pricing and have been accused of driving up costs.
In 2024, legislation was passed in Pennsylvania to help level the playing field.
President Donald Trump last month signed a bill meant to increase transparency in drug pricing and spur competition in the health care market, as previously reported by TribLive.
Akanowicz has been working to change the Pharmacy Benefit Managers system. He announced the creation of the Monopoly Busters Caucus last year to fight corporate power and promote an agenda supporting workers, consumers and small businesses.
“Frankly, pharmacies are closing every day in Pennsylvania and across the country. The main reason is under reimbursements from these (Pharmacy Benefit Managers),” he said. “Too frequently, again, we get under reimbursed below the cost of medication.”
Akanowicz blames Pharmacy Benefit Managers with creating longer wait times for patients and limiting availability to speak with a pharmacist.
“I thought it was important to be there to look those folks (Trump administration) in the eye and make sure they understand that I’m not going to be intimidated … for a single second,” Deluzio said. “So that’s what tonight’s going to be about for me.”
