The Florida Society of Rheumatology (FSR) applauds the inclusion of key health policy provisions signed into law by President Trump on February 3. Notably, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026 (H.R. 7148), a federal FY2026 appropriations and health extenders package, included meaningful Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reforms and a two-year extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities.
The legislation includes a provision to delink PBM compensation from drug prices in Medicare Part D, breaking the link between PBM profits and list-price-based incentives. This change promotes greater transparency and accountability, helping ensure that savings are passed on more directly to patients and reducing barriers to prescribed therapies.
FSR, as a founding and Governing Member of the Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP), has long advocated for these reforms — through recent stakeholder letters to congressional leadership and coalition advocacy — and by FSR board members personally discussing the need for Medicare Part D “delinking” with congressional leadership offices in meetings on Capitol Hill in November 2024.
The funding bill also includes a two-year extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities, preserving the ability for beneficiaries to access care virtually. Medicare telehealth services, help maintain continuity of care for patients who rely on telehealth for chronic disease management and reduce access disruptions for Medicare beneficiaries.
These legislative successes — rooted in sustained advocacy and coalition engagement — will help patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases access affordable medications and the care they need when and how they need it. FSR looks forward to its continued efforts to promote excellence in rheumatology as part of ATAP and the Coalition for State Rheumatology Organizations (CSRO) in 2026.
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