Gov. Dan McKee (D) signed two PBM reform bills into law in Rhode Island, home state for the corporate headquarters of CVS Caremark. HB 8579/S 3060 is a licensing bill that requires PBMs to obtain a certificate of authority from the Rhode Island health insurance commissioner to operate as PBMs. The bill also contains PBM reporting and enforcement provisions. HB 8582/S 3059 requires PBMs to have reimbursement appeals processes, prohibits gag clauses, and strengthens PBM obligations of “good faith and dealing” with patients, pharmacies, and insurers. The bill assigns to PBMs the cost of enforcement, with specifications that include 150 percent of salaries and benefits of utilized personnel in the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner.
NCPA salutes the cadre of independent pharmacy owners in Rhode Island for the success of their “Save My Local Pharmacy” campaign. These new laws are an important foundation for further reform and reflect how independent pharmacies anywhere can stand up to PBMs, even in the most difficult environments.
