The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Christine Arbo Peck.
DIGEST
SB 48 Original 2019 Regular Session Mills
Present law provides minimum requirements for Medicaid pharmacy benefit manager (PBM)
services. Proposed law retains the minimum requirements in present law, adds additional minimum
requirements, and provides effective January 1, 2021, administration of the Medicaid pharmacy
program shall be by the Louisiana Department of Health or pursuant to a single PBM contract
awarded in a competitive bid process in compliance with the Louisiana Procurement Code.
Proposed law disqualifies any PBM from being awarded the contract established in proposed law
if they have been in violation of the provisions in present law relative to remittance of the pharmacy
healthcare provider fee or the pharmacy local sales and use tax.
Present law authorizes the Louisiana 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.
Effective August 1, 2019.
(Amends R.S. 39:1648 and R.S. 46:153.3(A) and (B)(2)(a))