Pharmacy Pricing Amendments

Removed Section 5, which required the Public Employees' Health Program to adjust premiums and business practices to cover financial impacts from the new pharmacy pricing rules.

Changed the penalty provision in Section 4 to reference the general penalties in Section 31A-2-308 instead of specifying a fixed forfeiture of up to $2,500 per violation.

Updated the effective date of the bill from May 6, 2026, to March 5, 2026.

Added language allowing PEHP to increase state employee premiums as a method to mitigate financial impacts from the new drug pricing regulations.

Changed the effective date of the bill from May 6, 2026, to May 7, 2026.

Added a new requirement directing the Public Employees' Health Program (PEHP) to adjust its business practices to mitigate financial impacts caused by the new pharmacy pricing provisions.

Changed the effective date of the bill from May 6, 2026, to May 6, 2027.

Added a new section addressing uncodified language related to PEHP's compliance obligations.

The explicit prohibition on pharmacy benefit managers engaging in spread pricing was removed from the text.

The provision allowing entities contracted with a PBM to audit the PBM's contract performance was removed.

Requirements for maximum allowable cost lists were updated to mandate that lists be electronic, computer-accessible, and searchable.

The appeal process was expanded to include a dedicated contact method and the ability for pharmacies to submit appeals directly or through their pharmacy services administration organization.

The consequence for denied appeals was changed to allow pharmacies to reverse and resubmit claims without additional charges if the appeal is upheld or no cheaper wholesaler is found.

The frequency of maximum allowable cost reviews was increased to at least once per week.

The Senate sponsor was changed from 'LONG TITLE' to 'Evan J. Vickers'.

The penalty section was moved to Section 4, and the effective date was moved to Section 5.