Metro East Sun

Families in Illinois have faced increasing challenges affording prescription medications, with many forced to make difficult choices between buying food and filling necessary prescriptions. Senator Erica Harriss has highlighted the role of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) as a key factor in rising drug costs. PBMs operate between drug manufacturers, insurance companies, and pharmacies, negotiating prices and determining which drugs are covered by insurance.

Senator Harriss stated, "Most people have never heard of PBMs, but they feel their impact every time they stand at the pharmacy counter and wonder why a much-needed medication suddenly costs so much. PBMs are the secretive middlemen between drug manufacturers, insurance companies, and local pharmacies. They negotiate drug prices, decide which drugs your insurance will cover, determine how much your neighborhood pharmacy gets paid, and then benefit from the savings that should be going to you."

Earlier this month, House Bill 1697—known as the Prescription Drug Affordability Act—was signed into law. Senator Harriss sponsored this legislation with the goal of reducing out-of-pocket prescription costs for families and seniors across Illinois.

"It’s past time we give Illinois families a fair break. We’ve all heard the heartbreaking stories: grandparents cutting pills in half to stretch a prescription they can’t afford to refill; parents skipping their own doses to make sure their children get the medicine they need; families forced to choose between groceries and life-saving medications. No one in our communities should ever face that impossible choice and now we’re doing something about it," said Senator Harriss.

The new law is designed to ensure that cost savings reach consumers directly at the pharmacy counter instead of being absorbed through fees or complex deals involving PBMs. It also aims to protect local independent pharmacies by establishing clear rules and creating a grant program for small pharmacies serving rural or underserved areas.

"Make no mistake, this bill doesn’t punish local pharmacists, it further protects them. It safeguards our trusted neighborhood pharmacies, the ones with decades of history and genuine care at the heart of each community. These are the local pharmacists who know your family by name, deliver to your doorstep, answer questions late at night, and often serve as a lifeline for seniors, families with complex conditions, and rural communities that have no other options," Harriss said.

She added that HB 1697 helps maintain access to healthcare by supporting these small businesses: "HB 1697 levels the playing field so these local businesses can keep caring for our neighbors without being squeezed out by giant chains and PBM shell games. It also creates a grant program to support small, independent pharmacies in rural, low-income, and medically underserved communities, places where these neighborhood pharmacies are often the only accessible healthcare provider for miles. These grants will help keep doors open, jobs local, and vital care within reach."

The legislation aims for transparency in prescription pricing practices while providing assistance to those most affected by high drug costs.

"This is about fairness and common sense. No more fine print. No more loopholes that quietly drain our bank accounts while big corporations profit in the shadows. With HB 1697, we’re putting in place clear rules that make the system work for the people and not just the powerful few," she said.

Senator Harriss concluded her statement by emphasizing support for patients: "To every family who’s ever split pills to make them last, to every local pharmacist who’s fought to keep their doors open, and to every community that’s lost a trusted neighbor behind the counter, help is finally on the way."

Harriss was elected as a Republican representative for Illinois’ 56th Senate District in 2023 after replacing former senator Kris Tharp.

"It’s time to put patients first, and I’m proud to have helped pass legislation that does exactly that."