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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2247 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1203
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Bradley H. Jones, Jr.
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to pharmaceutical gag clauses.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Bradley H. Jones, Jr.20th Middlesex1/15/2025Paul K. Frost7th Worcester1/31/2025Todd M. Smola1st Hampden3/10/2025Hannah Kane11th Worcester1/31/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2247 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1203
By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1203) of
Bradley H. Jones, Jr. and others relative to contracts for pharmacy services between health
insurance carriers or pharmacy benefits' managers and pharmacies or pharmacists. Financial
Services.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1055 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to pharmaceutical gag clauses.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no contract for
2pharmacy services between a health insurance carrier or pharmacy benefits manager and a
3pharmacy or pharmacist shall contain a provision prohibiting or penalizing a pharmacist’s
4disclosure to an insured individual purchasing a covered prescription medication of information
5regarding (i) the cost of the prescription medication to the individual, and (ii) the availability of
6any equivalent medication or alternative methods of purchasing the prescription medication,
7including, but not limited to, paying a cash price, which may be less expensive than the cost of
8the prescription medication to the individual. 2 of 2
9 SECTION 2. No health insurance carrier or pharmacy benefits manager shall require an
10individual to make a payment at the point of sale for a covered prescription medication in an
11amount greater than the amount an individual would pay for the prescription medication if the
12individual purchased the prescription medication without using a health insurance plan.