New regulations from New York's financial industry monitor—aimed at leveling the playing field for independent pharmacies by incorporating a series of market conduct rules for pharmacy benefit managers—offer the promise of stemming abuses in that market, and appear able to withstand any challenges, attorneys in the space said.

Jonathan L. Swichar, one of the nation’s leading attorneys on PBM regulatory issues, told the Law Journal on Friday that the rules adopted by the New York State Department of Financial Services put the Empire State atop efforts to rein in PBM "middlemen" who negotiate terms and conditions for access to prescription drugs nationally.