Arkansas Sets a New National Standard for PBM Reform: What HR Should Know

Last month, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed legislation that bans Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) from owning or operating pharmacies, effective Jan. 1, 2026. HB1150 is the first state law to impose this level of restriction and signals growing bipartisan pressure for PBM reform. Even if your organization operates outside Arkansas, this law marks a broader shift in pharmacy benefit regulation. For HR leaders managing healthcare strategy, it introduces new considerations for ven