Virginia 2023 Regular Session

Virginia House Bill HB560

Introduced

1/11/22

Refer

1/11/22

Caption

Health insurance; retail community pharmacies.

Impact

The implications of HB 560 on state law primarily concern the relationship between pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) and retail pharmacies. The bill requires PBMs to treat retail pharmacies more equitably in terms of reimbursement and prohibiting differential treatment in cost-sharing arrangements. This change is expected to foster a more competitive environment within the pharmaceutical supply chain, ultimately benefiting consumers by ensuring they have better access to their necessary medications through local pharmacies.

Summary

House Bill 560 focuses on health insurance regulations concerning retail community pharmacies. The bill aims to enhance the accessibility of prescriptions by ensuring that covered individuals can fill their mail order prescriptions at any in-network retail pharmacy, given that the pharmacy agrees to accept the same reimbursement rates as mail-order pharmacies. This effort is intended to promote greater consumer choice and streamline access to medications, while reducing potential out-of-pocket costs for patients.

Contention

Despite its consumer-friendly intentions, HB 560 has sparked debates among stakeholders, particularly between retail pharmacies and PBMs. Supporters of the bill argue that it empowers consumers and fosters local business viability, while some may view it as an attempt to impose additional regulations on PBMs which they believe could lead to higher costs for health plans. The bill's provisions prevent PBMs from retaining excessive profits from rebates linked to mail-order pharmacy transactions, which some PBMs argue could create financial strain in their services and business models.