The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Christine Arbo Peck.
DIGEST
SB 239 Original 2019 Regular Session Mills
Present law authorizes the La. Department of Health to implement a prior approval process for
Medicaid prescription drugs. Proposed law retains present law and mandates a single preferred drug
list that shall include all therapeutic drug classes that are subject to prior authorization.
Proposed law authorizes the La. Department of Health to remove pharmacy services from Medicaid
managed care organization contracts and assume direct responsibility for all Louisiana Medicaid
pharmacy services. Proposed law provides that if the department administers the Medicaid pharmacy
program through use of one or more Medicaid managed care organization pharmacy benefit
managers certain provisions in proposed law must be adhered to.
Proposed law provides that the department has a duty to administer the Medicaid prescription drug
benefit program in the most clinically effective cost efficient manner possible. Proposed law requires
the department to develop and submit a comprehensive plan to administer the Medicaid prescription
drug program and submit the plan to the Senate and House committees on health and welfare, Senate
Finance Committee, and House Appropriations Committee on February 1, 2020.
Proposed law prohibits a Medicaid managed care organization from using a pharmacy benefit
manager for Medicaid if the pharmacy benefit manager is part of a larger company that also owns
retail pharmacies.
Effective August 1, 2019.
(Amends R.S. 46:153.3(B)(2)(a)(intro para); adds R.S. 46:450.7)