As the fight over abortion pills heats up nationally, Wyoming on Friday prohibited the medication in what NARAL Pro-Choice America called a “first of its kind” law, and also enacted a near-total ban on abortion. Republican Gov. Mark Gordon signed a bill making it a felony to prescribe, sell, or use “any drug for the purpose of procuring or performing an abortion.” Violators could face up to six months in prison and a $9,000 fine. The legislation takes effect July 1.

‍

Wyoming legislators are currently considering a new bill concerning pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Among its provisions, the bill addresses PBM transparency, reimbursement, steering, and batch submissions to appeals processes. The bill also appropriates funds and designates one additional headcount to the Department of Insurance for implementing and administering the law. The bill has passed two committees and the full Senate and now is in a House committee process, encountering challenges with the House Appropriations Committee.

Independent pharmacy owners in Wyoming are pushing for PBM legislation in order to save the future of their businesses. They are proposing that the state passes similar legislation to what has already been established in Arkansas through the Arkansas Act 900. Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are putting a strain on community pharmacies through their shady business practices, and pharmacy owners are calling on better transparency and regulation of these entities.