Oklahoma 2025 2025 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB789 Introduced / Bill

Filed 01/15/2025

                     
 
 
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STATE OF OKLAHOMA 
 
1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) 
 
SENATE BILL 789 	By: Gollihare 
 
 
 
 
 
AS INTRODUCED 
 
An Act relating to pharmacy benefit managers ; 
amending 59 O.S. 2021, Section s 356.2, as amended by 
Section 2, Chapter 332, O.S.L. 2024 , 357, as amended 
by Section 4, Chapter 332, O.S.L. 2024, and 360, as 
amended by Section 6, Chapter 332, O.S.L. 2024 (59 
O.S. Supp. 2024, Section s 356.2, 357, and 360), which 
relate to pharmacy audit requirements , definitions, 
and contractual duties to pro vider; permitting use of 
certain records without limitations of date or source 
for certain purposes; modifying definitions; updating 
statutory language; prohibiting certain network 
sharing; establishing certain reimbursement rates for 
certain drugs; providing for fee increase; 
prohibiting certain contracts between certain 
parties; establishing penalties; disallowing 
contracts from violating certain provisions; and 
providing an effective date . 
 
 
 
 
 
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA : 
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     59 O.S. 2021, Section 356.2, as 
amended by Section 2, Chapter 332, O.S.L. 2024 (59 O.S. Supp. 2024, 
Section 356.2), is amended to read as follows: 
Section 356.2. A.  The entity conducting an audit of a pha rmacy 
shall:   
 
 
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1.  Identify and specifically describe the audit and appeal 
procedures in the pharmacy contract.  Prescription claim 
documentation and record -keeping requirements shall not exceed the 
requirements set forth by the Oklahoma Pharmacy Act or othe r 
applicable state or federal laws or regulations; 
2.  Give the pharmacy writt en notice by certified letter to the 
pharmacy and the pharmacy ’s contracting agent, including 
identification of specific prescription numbers and fill dates to be 
audited, at least fourteen (14) calendar days prior to conducting 
the audit, including, but not limited to, an on -site audit, a desk 
audit, or a wholesale purchase audit, request for documentation 
related to the dispensing of a prescription drug or any reimbursed 
activity by a pharmacy provider; provided, however, that wholesale 
purchase audits shall require a minimum of thirty (30) calendar 
days’ written notice.  For an on -site audit, the audit date shall be 
the date the on-site audit occurs.  For all other audit types, the 
audit date shall be the date the pharmacy provides the documentation 
requested in the audit notice.  The pharmacy shall have the 
opportunity to reschedule the audit no more than seven (7) calendar 
days from the date designated on the original audit not ification; 
3.  Not interfere with the delivery of pharmacist services to a 
patient and shall utilize every reasonable effort to minimize 
inconvenience and disruption to pharmacy operations during the audit 
process;   
 
 
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4.  Conduct any audit involving clinical or professional 
judgment by means of or in consultation with a licensed pharmacist; 
5.  Not consider as fraud any clerical or record -keeping error, 
such as a typographical error, scrivener ’s error or computer error, 
including, but not limited to, a miscalc ulated day supply, 
incorrectly billed prescription written date or prescriptio n origin 
code, and such errors shall not be subject to recoupment.  The 
pharmacy shall have the right to submit amended claims 
electronically to correct clerical or record -keeping errors in lieu 
of recoupment.  To the extent that an audit results in the 
identification of any clerical or record -keeping errors such as 
typographical errors, scrivener ’s errors or computer errors in a 
required document or record, the pharmacy shall not be subject to 
recoupment of funds by the pharmacy benefits manager unless the 
pharmacy benefits manager can provide proof of intent to commit 
fraud.  A person shall not be subject to criminal penalties for 
errors provided for in this paragraph without pro of of intent to 
commit fraud; 
6.  Permit a pharmacy to use the records of a hospital, 
physician, or other authorized practitioner of the healing arts for 
drugs or medicinal supplies written or transmitted by any means of 
communication for purposes of valid ating the pharmacy record with 
respect to orders or refills of a legend or nar cotic drug;   
 
 
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7.  Permit a pharmacy to use drug purchase records without 
limitation of date or source to validate the dispensing of a 
prescription drug or a controlled dangerous su bstance, provided the 
drug purchase was done in accordance with state or federal law; 
8. Not include the dispensing fee amount or the actual invoice 
cost of the prescription dispensed in a finding of an audit 
recoupment unless a prescription was not actua lly dispensed or a 
physician denied authorization of a dispensing order; 
8. 9.  Audit each pharmacy under identical standards, regularity 
and parameters as other similarly situated pharmacies and all 
pharmacies owned or managed by the pharmacy benefits man ager 
conducting or having conducted the audit; 
9. 10.  Not exceed one (1) year from the date the claim was 
submitted to or adjudicated by a managed care company, nonprofit 
hospital or medical service organization, insurance company, third -
party payor, pharmacy benefits manager, a health program 
administered by a department of this s tate, or any entity that 
represents the companies, groups, or departments for the period 
covered by an audit; 
10. 11.  Not schedule or initiate an audit during the first 
seven (7) calendar days of any month unless otherwise consented to 
by the pharmacy; 
11. 12.  Disclose to any plan sponsor whose claims were included 
in the audit any money recouped in the audit;   
 
 
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12. 13. Not require pharmacists to break open packaging labeled 
“for single-patient-use only”.  Packaging labeled “for single-
patient-use only” shall be deemed to be the smallest package size 
available; and 
13. 14.  Upon recoupment of funds from a pharmacy, refund first 
to the patient the portion of the recovered funds tha t were 
originally paid by the patient, provided such funds were part of the 
recoupment. 
B.  1.  Any entity that conducts wholesale purchase review 
during an audit of a pharmacist or pharmacy shall not require the 
pharmacist or pharmacy to provide a full di spensing report.  
Wholesaler invoice reviews shall be limited to verification of 
purchase inventory specific to the pharmacy claims paid by the 
health benefits plan or pharmacy benefits manager conducting the 
audit without limitation to date or source of p urchase. 
2.  Any entity conducting an audit shall not identify or label a 
prescription claim as an audit discrepancy when: 
a. the National Drug Code for the dispensed drug is in a 
quantity that is a subunit or multiple of the drug 
purchased by the pharmaci st or pharmacy as supported 
by a wholesale invoice, 
b. the pharmacist or pharm acy dispensed the correct 
quantity of the drug according to the prescription, 
and   
 
 
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c. the drug dispensed by the pharmacist or pharmacy 
shares all but the last two digits of the Na tional 
Drug Code of the drug reflected on the supplier 
invoice. 
3.  An entity conducting an audit shall accept as evidence, 
without limitation on date or source of purchase subject to 
validation, to support the validity of a pharmacy claim related to a 
dispensed drug: 
a. redacted copies of supplier invoices in the 
pharmacist’s or pharmacy’s possession, or 
b. invoices and any supporting documents from any 
supplier as authorized by federal or state law to 
transfer ownership of the drug acquired by the 
pharmacist or pharmacy. 
4.  An entity conducting an audit shall provide, no later than 
five (5) calendar days after the date of a request by the pharmacist 
or pharmacy, all supporting documents the pharmacist ’s or pharmacy’s 
purchase suppliers provided to the hea lth benefits plan issuer or 
pharmacy benefits manager. 
C.  A pharmacy shall be allowed to provide the pharmacy ’s 
computerized patterned medical records or the records of a hospital, 
physician, or other authorized practitioner of the healing arts for 
drugs or medicinal supplies written or transmitted by any means of   
 
 
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communication for purposes of supporting the pharmacy record with 
respect to orders or refills of a legend or narcotic drug. 
D.  The entity conducting the audit shall not audit more than 
fifty prescriptions, with specific date of service, per calendar 
year.  The annual lim it to the number of prescription claims audited 
shall be inclusive of all audits, including any prescription -related 
documentation requests from the health insurer, pharmacy bene fits 
manager or any third -party company conducting audits on behalf of 
any health insurer or pharmacy benefits manager during a calendar 
year. 
E.  If paper copies of records are requested by the entity 
conducting the audit, the entity shall pay twenty -five cents ($0.25) 
per page to cover the costs incurred by the pharmacy.  The enti ty 
conducting the audit shall provide the pharmacy with accurate 
instructions, including any required form for obtaining 
reimbursement for the copied records. 
F.  The entity conducting the audit shall: 
1.  Deliver a preliminary audit findings report to the pharmacy 
and the pharmacy’s contracting agent within forty -five (45) calendar 
days of conducting the audit; 
2.  Allow the pharmacy at least ninety (90) calendar days 
following receipt of the preliminary audit findings report in which 
to produce documentat ion to address any discrepancy found during the   
 
 
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audit; provided, however, a pharmacy may request an extension, not 
to exceed an additional forty -five (45) calendar days; 
3.  Deliver a final audit findings report to the pharmacy and 
the pharmacy’s contracting agent signed by the auditor within ten 
(10) calendar days after receipt of additional documentation 
provided by the pharmacy, as provided for in Section 356.3 of this 
title; 
4.  Allow the pharmacy to reverse and resubmit claims 
electronically within thi rty (30) calendar days of receipt of the 
final audit report in lieu of the auditing entity recouping 
discrepant claim amounts from the pharmacy; 
5.  Not recoup any disputed funds until after final disposition 
of the audit findings, including the appeals process as provided for 
in Section 356.3 of this title; and 
6.  Not accrue interest during the audit and appeal period. 
G.  Each entity conducting an audit shall provide a copy of the 
final audit results, and a final audit report upon request, after 
completion of any review process to the plan sponsor. 
H.  1.  The full amount of any recoupment on an audit shall be 
refunded to the plan sponsor.  Except as provided for in paragraph 2 
of this subsection, a charge or assessment for an audit shall not be 
based, directly or indirectly, on amounts recouped. 
2.  This subsection does not prevent the entity conducting the 
audit from charging or assessing the responsible party, directly or   
 
 
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indirectly, based on amounts recouped if both of the following 
conditions are met: 
a. the plan sponsor and the entity conducting the audit 
have a contract that explicitly states the percentage 
charge or assessment to the plan sponsor, and 
b. a commission to an agent or employee of the entity 
conducting the audit is not based, directly or 
indirectly, on amounts recouped. 
I.  Unless superseded by state or federal law, auditors shall 
only have access to previous audit reports on a particular pharmacy 
conducted by the auditing entity for the same pharmacy benefits 
manager, health plan or ins urer.  An auditing vendor contracting 
with multiple pharmacy benefits managers or health insurance plans 
shall not use audit reports or other information gained from an 
audit on a pharmacy to conduct another audit for a different 
pharmacy benefits manager or health insurance plan. 
J.  Sections A through I of this section shall not apply to any 
audit initiated based on or that involves fraud, willful 
misrepresentation, or abuse. 
K. If the Attorney General, after notice and opportunity for 
hearing, finds that the entity conducting the audit failed to follow 
any of the requirements pursuant to the Pharmacy Audit Integrity 
Act, the audit shall be considered null and void.  Any monies 
recouped from a null and void audit shall be returned to the   
 
 
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affected pharmacy within fourteen (14) calendar days.  Any violation 
of this section by a pharmacy benefits manager or auditing entity 
shall be deemed a violation of the Pharmacy Audit Integrity Act. 
SECTION 2.     AMENDATORY     59 O.S. 2021, Section 357 , as 
amended by Section 4, Chapter 332, O.S.L. 2024 (59 O.S. Supp. 2024, 
Section 357), is amended to read as follows: 
Section 357. A.  As used in Sections 357 through 360 of thi s 
title: 
1.  “Covered entity” means a nonprofit hospital or medical 
service organization, for -profit hospital or medical service 
organization, insurer, health benefit plan, health maintenance 
organization, health program administered by the state in the 
capacity of providing health coverage, or an employer, labor union, 
or other group of persons that provides health coverage to persons 
in this state.  This term does not include a health benefit plan 
that provides coverage only for accidental injury, specifi ed 
disease, hospital indemnity, disability income, or other limited 
benefit health insurance policies and contracts that do not include 
prescription drug coverage; 
2.  “Covered individual” means a member, participant, enrollee, 
contract holder or policy ho lder or beneficiary of a covered entity 
who is provided health coverage by the covered entity.  A covered 
individual includes any dependent or other person provided health   
 
 
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coverage through a policy, contract or plan for a covered 
individual; 
3.  “Department” means the Insurance Department; 
4.  “Effective rate contracting” means any agreement or 
arrangement between a pharmacy or contracting agent acting on behalf 
of a pharmacy and a pharmacy benefits manager for pharmaceuticals 
based on the effective rate of payment rather than a predetermined 
fixed price or fixed discount percentage; 
5. “Maximum allowable cost ”, “MAC”, or “MAC list” means the 
list of drug products delineating the maximum per -unit reimbursement 
for multiple-source prescription drugs, medical product, or device; 
5. 6. “Multisource drug product reimbursement ” (reimbursement) 
means the total amount paid to a pharmacy inclusive of any reduction 
in payment to the pharmacy, excluding prescription dispense fees and 
professional fees; 
6. 7. “Office” means the Office of the Attorney General; 
7. 8. “Pharmacy benefits manageme nt” means a service provided 
to covered entities to facilitate the provision of prescription drug 
benefits to covered individuals within the state, including 
negotiating pricing and other terms with drug manufacturers and 
providers.  Pharmacy benefits management may include any or all of 
the following services:   
 
 
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a. claims processing, retail network management and 
payment of claims to pharmacies for prescription drugs 
dispensed to covered individuals, 
b. clinical formulary development and management 
services, or 
c. rebate contracting and administration; 
8. 9.  “Pharmacy benefits manager ” or “PBM” means a person, 
business, or other entity that performs pharmacy benefits 
management.  The term shall include a person or entity acting on 
behalf of a PBM in a contractual or employment relationship in the 
performance of pharmacy benefits management for a managed care 
company, nonprofit hospital, medical service organization, insurance 
company, third-party payor, or a health program administered by an 
agency or department of this state; 
9. 10.  “Plan sponsor” means the employers, insurance companies, 
unions and health maintenance organizations or any other entity 
responsible for establishing, maintaining, or administering a health 
benefit plan on behalf of covered individuals; and 
10. 11.  “Provider” means a pharmacy licensed by the State Board 
of Pharmacy, or an agent or representative of a pharmacy, including, 
but not limited to, the pharmacy ’s contracting agent, which 
dispenses prescription drugs or devices to covered individuals. 
B.  Nothing in the definition of pharmacy benefits management or 
pharmacy benefits manager in the Patient ’s Right to Pharmacy Choice   
 
 
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Act, Pharmacy Audit Integrity A ct, or Sections 357 through 360 of 
this title shall deem an employer a “pharmacy benefits manager ” of 
its own self-funded health benefit plan, except, to the extent 
permitted by applicable law, where the employer, without the 
utilization of a third party a nd unrelated to the employer ’s own 
pharmacy: 
a. negotiates directly with drug manufacturers, 
b. processes claims on behalf of its members, or 
c. manages its own retail network of pharmacies. 
SECTION 3.     AMENDATORY     59 O.S. 2021, Sec tion 360, as 
amended by Section 6, Chapter 332, O.S.L. 2024 (59 O.S. Supp. 2024, 
Section 360), is amended to read as follows: 
Section 360.  A.  The pharmacy benefits manager shall, with 
respect to contracts between a pharmacy benefits manager and a 
provider, including a pharmacy service administrative organization: 
l.  Include in such contracts the specific sources utilized to 
determine the maximum allowable cost (MAC) pricing of the pharmacy, 
update MAC pricing at least every seven (7) calendar days, and 
establish a process for providers to readily access the MAC list 
specific to that provider; 
2.  In order to place a drug on the MAC list, ensure that the 
drug is listed as “A” or “B” rated in the most recent version of the 
FDA’s Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence 
Evaluations, also known as the Orange Book, and the dr ug is   
 
 
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generally available for purchase by pharmacies in the state from 
national or regional wholesalers and is not obsolete; 
3.  Ensure dispensing fees are not included in the ca lculation 
of MAC price reimbursement to pharmacy providers; 
4.  Provide a reasonable administration appeals procedure to 
allow a provider, a provider ’s representative and a pharmacy service 
administrative organization to contest reimbursement amounts withi n 
fourteen (14) calendar days of the final adjusted payment date.  The 
pharmacy benefits manager shall not prevent the pharmacy or the 
pharmacy service administrative organization from filing 
reimbursement appeals in an electronic batch format.  The pharma cy 
benefits manager must respond to a provider, a provider ’s 
representative and a pharmacy service administrative organization 
who have contested a reimbursement amount through this procedure 
within ten (10) calendar days.  The pharmacy benefits manager mu st 
respond in an electronic batch format to reimbursement appeals filed 
in an electronic batch format.  The pharmacy benefits manager shall 
not require a pharmacy or pharmacy services administrative 
organization to log into a system to upload individual cl aim appeals 
or to download individual appeal responses.  If a price update is 
warranted, the pharmacy benefits manager shall make the change in 
the reimbursement amount, permit the dispensing pharmacy to reverse 
and rebill the claim in question, and make t he reimbursement amount 
change retroactive and effective for all contracted pr oviders; and   
 
 
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5.  If a below-cost reimbursement appeal is denied, the PBM 
shall provide the reason for the denial, including the National Drug 
Code (NDC) number from, and the name of, the specific national or 
regional wholesalers doing business in this state where the drug is 
currently in stock and available for purchase by the dispensing 
pharmacy at a price below the PBM ’s reimbursement price.  If the NDC 
number provided by the ph armacy benefits manager is not available 
below the acquisition cost obtained f rom the pharmaceutical 
wholesaler from whom the dispensing pharmacy purchases the majority 
of the prescription drugs that are dispensed, the pharmacy benefits 
manager shall immediately adjust the reimbursement amount, permit 
the dispensing pharmacy to reverse and rebill the claim in question, 
and make the reimbursement amount adjustment retroactive and 
effective in effect for all contracted providers for future claims 
billed. 
B.  The reimbursement appeal requirements in this section shall 
apply to all drugs, medical products, or devices reimbursed 
according to any payment methodology, including, but not limited to: 
1.  Average acquisition cost, including the National Average 
Drug Acquisition Cost; 
2.  Average manufacturer price; 
3.  Average wholesale price; 
4.  Brand effective rate or generic effective rate; 
5.  Discount indexing;   
 
 
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6.  Federal upper limits; 
7.  Wholesale acquisition cost; and 
8.  Any other term that a pharmacy benefi ts manager or an 
insurer of a health benefit plan may use to establish reimbur sement 
rates to a pharmacist or pharmacy for pharmacist services. 
C.  The pharmacy benefits manager shall not place a drug on a 
MAC list, unless there are at least two therapeuti cally equivalent, 
multiple-source drugs, generally available for purchase by 
dispensing retail pharmacies from national or regional wholesalers. 
D.  In the event that a drug is placed on the FDA Drug Shortages 
Database, pharmacy benefits managers shall rei mburse claims to 
pharmacies at no less than the wholesale acquisition cost for the 
specific NDC number being dispensed. 
E.  The pharmacy benefits manager shall not require 
accreditation or licensing of providers, or any entity licensed or 
regulated by the State Board of Pharmacy, other than by the State 
Board of Pharmacy or federal government entity as a condition for 
participation as a network provider. 
F.  A pharmacy or pharmacist may decline to provide the 
pharmacist clinical or dispensing services to a patient or pharmacy 
benefits manager if the pharmacy or pharmacist is to be pa id less 
than the pharmacy’s cost for providing the pharmacist clinical or 
dispensing services.   
 
 
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G.  The pharmacy benefits manager shall provide a dedicated 
telephone number, email address and names of the personnel with 
decision-making authority regarding MAC appeals and pricing. 
H.  No pharmacy benefit s manager (PBM) shall lease, rent, or 
otherwise make its provider network available to another pharmacy 
benefits manager.  Prohibited activities shall include, but not be 
limited to: 
1.  Entering into agreemen ts or contracts that allow another PBM 
to use the provider network; and 
2.  Facilitating access to the provider network though any form 
of leasing or renting arrangement. 
I.  The PBM shall, with respect to contracts between a PBM and a 
provider, including contracts with pharmacy service administrative 
organization, ensure that reimbursement to pharmacies for each drug 
dispensed is no less than one hundred six percent (106%) of the 
National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) plus a professional 
fee of Fifteen Dollars ($15.00).  The NADAC price shall be the price 
published in effect for the date the drug claim was billed by the 
pharmacy.  If a particular drug does not have a publi shed NADAC 
price, the reimbursement shall be one hundred ten percent (110%) of 
the wholesale acquisition cost (WAC) plus a professional fee of 
Fifteen Dollars ($15.00) for generic drugs and one hundred (100%) 
percent of the WAC plus a professional fee of F ifteen Dollars 
($15.00) for brand-name drugs.  The professional fee shall   
 
 
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automatically increase on January 1 of each year at a percentage 
equal to the inflation rate measured by the Consumer Price Index for 
the previous twelve-month period. 
J. 1.  Effective rate contracting is hereby prohibited in all 
agreements between pharmacies or contracting agents acting on behalf 
of a pharmacy and a PBM or third -party payers.  No PBM or third -
party payer shall enter into any contract that establishes payment 
for services or medications based on an effective rate of 
reimbursement. 
2. Any PBM or third-party payer found to be in violation of 
this section shall be subject to penalties, including , but not 
limited to, fines, revocation of licensure, or other disciplinary 
actions. 
K.  The provisions of this section shall not be waived, voided, 
or nullified by contract. 
SECTION 4.  This act shall become effective November 1, 2025. 
 
60-1-700 CAD 1/15/2025 5:58:09 PM