Latest news with #KateGainer
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa Pharmacy Association CEO to step down after ‘historic' reform bill was passed
DES MOINES, Iowa — After two decades in the Iowa Pharmacy Association, CEO Kate Gainer is stepping down. 'Working for the IPA has brought so much meaning to my life, both professionally and personally,' she said. Gainer started working in the IPA in 2005 and was named the CEO in 2011. She was at the forefront of advocating for legislation supporting pharmacies across the state. On Monday, a PBM reform bill passed the Iowa legislature and is now headed to the Governor's desk. During this legislative session, Gainer has organized several meetings at the Capitol where IPA members and community members demonstrated their support for reform. The most recent was Monday morning, ahead of the House's debate on the bill. Her efforts led to the passing of what she calls a 'historic' reform bill. Gainer said she will mainly miss the people she created close relationships with over her 20 years. 'The highlight for me working for IPA isn't a singular piece of legislation or an achievement from our strategic plan, but it's truly the relationships that I've built with so many pharmacists across the state and it's the people that have meant the most and have made this work really, really rewarding,' she said. Gainer will stay in Iowa, but will take time to spend with her family before deciding what's next. Pharmacy Benefit Managers reform bill heads to the Governor Iowa Pharmacy Association CEO to step down after 'historic' reform bill was passed The Caitlin Clark Effect: About 3 in 10 US adults follow women's sports, new poll finds Iowa Senate advances carbon pipeline eminent domain legislation Marshalltown City Council moves mall project forward Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Iowa House sends PBM reform bill to governor's desk
DES MOINES, Iowa — The Iowa House on Monday passed the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform bill and sent it to the governor's desk. PBMs are entities that negotiate the prices for prescription drugs between pharmacies and insurance companies, handle reimbursements to pharmacies, and determines where a patient can get their medications from. Champions for the reform bill say that the current practices of PBMs are detrimental and have resulted in numerous pharmacies closing across the state. Golf tournament raises $30,000 for families of Iowa veterans and first responders in first swing The reform bill, SF 383, passed the House 75 to 15. It requires PBMs to reimburse pharmacies based on the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost for prescription drugs and to reimburse pharmacies with a professional dispensing fee. Following the passage of the bill, the Iowa Pharmacy Association released a statement thanking the Legislature for protecting Iowa pharmacies and their patients. We commend the Iowa House for recognizing the urgent need to address PBM middlemen abuses. This bill is a critical step toward protecting Iowa's local pharmacies and ensuring accountability for PBMs, whose practices have forced Iowa pharmacies to shutter their doors and countless Iowans to lose healthcare access. With states nationwide enacting similar reforms, we're grateful the House and Senate have paved the way for Governor Reynolds to sign this bill and safeguard Iowa's pharmacies and the patients they serve. Iowa Pharmacy Association CEO Kate Gainer The bill is now eligible to be signed into law by Governor Kim Reynolds. Iowa News: Forecast: Who will see rain this week? Iowa House sends PBM reform bill to governor's desk Congressman Randy Feenstra files paperwork hinting he may run for governor Pharmacy Benefit Manager reform bill to be debated Fire causes 'significant' damage to Raccoon River Valley Bike Trail bridge in Adel Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pharmacy owner, Iowa Pharmacy Association discuss industry reform in the state
DES MOINES, Iowa — With just one more work week in the Iowa legislative session, advocates in the state's pharmaceutical industry are calling for lawmakers to pass a bill to reform the system. 'That's repeatedly happening with multiple prescriptions and especially you look at some of the more expensive name brands. It's not unusual to lose $50 to $100 on that prescription, so that pharmacist has to make an ethical decision, all the time,' said Randy McDonough, owner of Towncrest Pharmacies. 'How do I keep my doors open?' NFL draft ends, nine Hawkeyes, Cyclones enter the NFL The Iowa Pharmacy Association is advocating for pharmacy benefit manager reform, with 31 pharmacies in the state closing over the last year. 250 pharmacies closed over the last decade. Both bills wait in the Iowa House and Iowa Senate chambers with one week left to go in the session. 'The bill would set an average rate for every prescription that's dispensed that covers the cost to keep their doors open. That would keep access for patients to choose pharmacies in their communities,' said Kate Gainer, Executive Vice President and CEO of the Iowa Pharmacy Association. Both McDonough and Gainer discussed the legislation on Today in Iowa Sunday. The first portion of the interview is attached above, with the second right below. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
