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WASHINGTON — Congress has abandoned its attempt to reform how pharmacy middlemen operate in an upcoming package to fund the federal government, 11 lobbyists and sources following the talks told STAT.

It’s a missed opportunity to pass one of the health care priorities that has attracted the most bipartisan interest and activity this Congress, though lawmakers could revive the negotiations on the issues in the future.

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Reforming how pharmacy benefit managers operate has been a top lobbying priority for the pharmaceutical industry since Democrats passed a major package aimed at lowering the costs of medicines in 2022. Pharma and PBMs have taken up a very public battle on the airwaves.

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