HB 1665 Mississippi House · 2026 Regular Session

Pharmacy Benefit Prompt Pay Act and State Health Insurance Plan; revise.

This bill regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) that handle prescription drug coverage for Mississippi state employees' health plans. It requires PBMs to obtain licenses from the Insurance Commissioner, explain claim denials within seven days, and stop practices like "spread pricing" (charging different prices to different pharmacies). The bill transfers oversight from the State Board of Pharmacy to the Insurance Commissioner, creates a special fund for oversight, and updates how the state selects PBMs for its health plan. These changes directly affect state employees receiving prescription drug coverage through the state health insurance plan.

Issues: ✓ Healthcare

Bill status died 4 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Governor

Introduced Feb 5, 2026 Last action Mar 26, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Committee Substitute → Current version · 7 edits

MODERATE

This bill transfers regulatory authority for pharmacy benefit managers from the State Board of Pharmacy to the Commissioner of Insurance, creating a new special fund for insurance regulation and establishing stricter rules on reimbursement, appeals, and anti-retaliation protections for pharmacists.

Scope change

The bill significantly expands the scope of the Commissioner of Insurance's authority to include regulation of pharmacy benefit managers and pharmacy services administrative organizations, while reducing the State Board of Pharmacy's role to general pharmacy practice regulation.

SCOPE

Transfers all regulatory powers and duties over pharmacy benefit managers from the State Board of Pharmacy to the Commissioner of Insurance effective July 1, 2026.

FISCAL

Creates a new special fund in the State Treasury to support the Department of Insurance's regulation of pharmacy benefit managers, with unobligated funds from the previous Board of Pharmacy fund transferred to this new fund.

REQUIREMENT

Requires pharmacy benefit managers to provide reasons for claim denials within seven days of receiving an electronic claim.

Prohibits retaliation against pharmacists by pharmacy benefit managers, including termination, increased audits, or delayed payments.

DEFINITION

Redefines the 'Board' to mean the State Board of Pharmacy for general pharmacy practice, while 'Commissioner' refers to the Commissioner of Insurance for pharmacy benefit manager regulation.

ENFORCEMENT

Changes enforcement authority for pharmacy benefit manager violations from the Board of Pharmacy to the Commissioner of Insurance.

TIMELINE

Updates various reporting deadlines and effective dates to align with the transfer of authority to the Commissioner of Insurance.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 10, 2026 · House Feb 4, 2026

How they voted

43–8

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 52

Mar 10, 2026

D Democratic18

15 Yea 3 Nay

83% Yea

R Republican34

28 Yea 5 Nay 1

82% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed As Amended

upper

Mar 10, 2026

Upper · Passed

Amended

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass As Amended

upper

Feb 13, 2026

Committee

Referred To Public Health and Welfare

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Introduced

Transmitted To Senate

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed As Amended

lower

Feb 4, 2026

Lower · Passed

Amended

lower

Feb 3, 2026

Lower · Passed

Title Suff Do Pass Comm Sub

lower

Jan 19, 2026

Committee

Referred To State Affairs

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors