Louisiana 2016 2016 Regular Session

Louisiana Senate Bill SB131 Engrossed / Bill

                    SLS 16RS-365	REENGROSSED
2016 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 131
BY SENATOR JOHNS 
HEALTH CARE.  Limits costs for pharmacists services. (8/1/16)
1	AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 22:1060.6, relative to the prescription drug cost; to provide for pharmacist
3 communication with patients; to provide for an effective date; and to provide for
4 related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 22:1060.6 is hereby enacted to read as follows: 
7 §1060.6. Limitation; patient payment
8	A. An individual shall not be required to make a payment for
9 pharmacists services in an amount greater than the pharmacist or pharmacy
10 providing the pharmacists services may retain from all payment sources.
11	B. The provision established in Subsection A of this Section shall become
12 effective on January 1, 2017.
13 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on August 1, 2016; if vetoed by the
14 governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on
15 August 1, 2016, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.
Page 1 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 131
SLS 16RS-365	REENGROSSED
The original instrument was prepared by Christine Arbo Peck. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by Ann S. Brown.
DIGEST
SB 131 Reengrossed 2016 Regular Session	Johns
Proposed law provides that an individual shall not be required to make a payment for
pharmacists services in an amount greater than the pharmacist or pharmacy providing the
services may retain from all payment sources.
Proposed law provides that the limited cost for pharmacists services provision is effective
on January 1, 2017.
Effective August 1, 2016. 
(Adds R.S. 22:1060.6)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill
1. Clarified that the intended discussion between the pharmacist and patient was
to identify the lower of the cost of the patient’s health plan copay or another
cost that may be available and allow the patient to pay the lesser amount for
the same prescription drug and that any contract provision between a health
plan and a pharmacy to the contrary would be void and unenforceable. 
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Provides that an individual's cost for pharmacists services shall not be greater
than the amount that would be paid by all other payment sources for such
services.
2. Provides an effective date of 1/1/17 for the limited cost of pharmacists
services provision.
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.