Oklahoma Families for Affordable Healthcare Warns Proposed Pharmacy Legislation Will Raise Prescription Costs for Patients

Oklahoma Families for Affordable Healthcare (OKFAHC) is raising concerns about legislation advancing at the State Capitol that would increase prescription drug costs for patients, employers, and taxpayers across Oklahoma.

Originally introduced as an effort to support independent pharmacies, House Bill 3538 included provisions that would have disrupted access to mail-order medications relied upon by many Oklahomans, including veterans. After hearing concerns from patients and veterans across the state, lawmakers removed those provisions.

“To their credit, Oklahoma lawmakers listened when veterans raised concerns about access to care,” said Julie McKone, Executive Director of OKFAHC.

However, both HB 3538 and its Senate companion, Senate Bill 2074, now include a mandatory, government-imposed dispensing fee of more than $10 on every prescription filled in Oklahoma — a policy OKFAHC says will significantly increase costs for patients.

“This is essentially a new tax on prescriptions,” McKone said. “And it’s one that will be paid directly by Oklahoma families, employers, and taxpayers.”

For Oklahomans managing chronic conditions, the added cost is substantial. The cost of providing pharmacy benefit services for an Oklahoman getting six prescriptions a month would go up by about $800 annually.

The impact extends beyond individual patients. According to the state’s fiscal analysis, applying this policy to public employee health plans alone would cost taxpayers more than $10 million annually. Broader impacts across the private sector are expected to be significantly higher, resulting in increased insurance premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs for working families.

While OKFAHC acknowledges the challenges facing independent pharmacies, the organization warns that shifting costs onto patients is not the right solution.

“Independent pharmacies are important parts of our communities, and supporting local businesses is a goal we all share,” McKone said. “But we should not do so by increasing the cost of essential medications for Oklahoma families — especially those who are already struggling to afford care.”

OKFAHC is urging lawmakers to reconsider the approach and prioritize policies that protect patients from higher healthcare costs.

“Healthcare policy should start with one simple principle: the patient comes first,” McKone said. “Making prescriptions more expensive moves us in the wrong direction.”