Relating to pharmacy benefit managers and state pharmacy purchasing

This bill establishes rules for pharmacy benefit managers operating in West Virginia to protect pharmacies and patients from unfair pricing practices. It requires these managers to provide information about lower-cost drug alternatives without penalizing pharmacies for discussing them, and it prohibits charging pharmacies more than the amount patients pay out of pocket. The legislation also restricts how pharmacy benefit managers can handle 340B drug discounts, ensuring 340B pharmacies are not charged additional fees or subjected to extra administrative burdens compared to other pharmacies. Additionally, the bill mandates an annual study of dispensing fees and requires the implementation of a pharmacy cost containment tool to help control drug spending.