ENROLLED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 254
BY REPRESENTATIVE JORDAN
A RESOLUTION
To authorize and request the Department of Insurance to study the desirability and feasibility
of the state regulation of pharmacy services administrative organizations, and to
report the findings of the study to the legislative committees on insurance.
WHEREAS, independent community pharmacies are locally owned, small business
drugstores who offer a variety of niche services and personalized care and who play a critical
role in Louisiana's healthcare delivery system; and
WHEREAS, independent community pharmacies are required to interact with a
network of entities that offer a variety of services to obtain, distribute, and collect payment
for the drugs they dispense, including but not limited to drug wholesalers that purchase and
distribute drugs to pharmacies and third-party payers that pay for the dispensed drugs on
behalf of enrollees; and
WHEREAS, with limited time and resources, independent community pharmacies
may need assistance in interacting with these entities, particularly with third-party payers
that include large private and public health plans such as those offered by large corporations
and the federal government through Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits
Program; and
WHEREAS, pharmacy services administrative organizations provide administrative
services to independent community pharmacies to assist the pharmacies in interacting with
third-party payers; and
WHEREAS, pharmacy services administrative organizations are not currently
regulated by the Department of Insurance or any other state agency; and
WHEREAS, the Department of Insurance works diligently to balance the needs of
insurance consumers with the insurance industry's need to run a competitive business; and
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WHEREAS, as a regulator, the department enforces the laws that provide a fair and
stable marketplace with transparent rules so one insurer does not have an unfair competitive
advantage over other insurers.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Department of Insurance to study
the desirability and feasibility of the state regulation of pharmacy services administrative
organizations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in carrying out the purposes of this Resolution,
the Department of Insurance shall engage and solicit input, recommendations, and advice
from interested parties and stakeholders including but not limited to representatives from all
of the following:
(1)Independent community pharmacies.
(2)Wholesale drug distributors.
(3)Pharmacy services administrative organizations.
(4)Pharmacy benefit managers and other third-party administrators.
(5)Health insurance and health benefit plan issuers.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that, in conducting the study required by this
Resolution, the Department of Insurance shall survey the laws and best practices in other
states.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Insurance shall submit a
written report of its findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation if
necessary, to the House Committee on Insurance and Senate Committee on Insurance no
later than February 1, 2020. The department may render objective, fiscally feasible
recommendations to the legislature for the implementation of policies that could be adopted
by the state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
commissioner of insurance.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
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