New Poll: Overwhelming Majority of Nevadans Support Regulation of Prescription Drug Middlemen

Respondents support policies to require pharmacy benefit managers (PBM)s to provide value, lower patient drug costs

Carson City, NV – As Nevada residents face rising out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs, new polling data released today demonstrates overwhelming support for regulation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to help lower costs.

PBMs serve as intermediaries in the prescription drug system, tasked with negotiating lower medication prices for health insurers, employers, and patients. However, instead of reducing costs, PBMs have been exploiting the system, driving up patients’ out-of-pocket expenses to increase their own profits.

Key findings from the poll, administered by The Tarrance Group, include:

• Nearly 6 out of 10 Nevadans were initially not at all familiar with PBMs, despite their outsized role in driving up prescription drug prices and the monopoly they have on the prescription drug market.

• After learning more about PBMs, 82% of Nevadans are very or extremely concerned that there is little oversight or regulation of PBMs.

• 87% of Nevadans surveyed say it is very or extremely important to have rules that require PBMs to provide value and lower drug costs for consumers.

Nevada legislators are considering legislation, SB 316, to prevent PBMs from making money off high prescription prices and ensure that they deliver value to Nevada patients and families. Of note, respondents supported several specific policy proposals included in the bill:

• Ensuring that PBMs have a responsibility for a duty of care to the patient, not their stock shareholders or corporate bosses (90% support) 

• Changing how PBMs profit so it’s not connected to the price of prescription drugs and they are not incentivized to drive up prices for patients (85% support)

Local patients and pharmacists are highlighting the need for PBM reforms.

“As pharmacists, our goal is to ensure patients receive the medicines they need at a fair price,” said Matthew LaSarso, Pharmacist at Solutions Specialty Pharmacy. “By increasing accountability for PBMs and enhancing transparency, patients will have the freedom to choose their preferred community pharmacy and access the medications they need at lower prices. This straightforward approach will strengthen Nevada’s healthcare system and deliver savings for patients.”

“For Nevadans with complex chronic conditions that rely on prescription medications daily, they have experienced first-hand how confusing and expensive it can be when going to the pharmacy counter,” said Tom McCoy, Executive Director/State Government Affairs of the Nevada Chronic Care Collaborative. “Nevada's patients deserve a system that puts their health before profits, and the Nevada Chronic Care Collaborative supports efforts to make sure PBMs are held accountable."

“Large PBMs have used their market power to steer patients away from local pharmacies and limit patient choice, making it harder to provide affordable, accessible medications,” said Liz MacMenamin, Vice President of the Retail Association of Nevada. “Our lawmakers should be pushing meaningful PBM reforms to ensure oversight of these large corporations and restore fairness to the marketplace.”

The mixed-mode survey was conducted from May 5-8, 2025, and reached more than 600 voters in Nevada.

To view the survey, click here. To view a one-page summary of the survey results, click here. To learn more about the PBM issue and legislative solutions, click here.

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