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A federal judge has granted Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking enforcement of parts of Iowa’s new pharmacy benefit manager reform law, shielding the state’s largest health insurer and its customers from provisions Wellmark argues would sharply increase prescription costs.

Chief U.S. District Judge Stephanie Rose on Wednesday issued the order, which suspends enforcement of several sections of Senate File 383 that she found likely in conflict with federal law — including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act and the First Amendment.

The injunction applies to Wellmark health plans and insurance policies that include pharmacy benefits and wer

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