Req. No. 700 Page 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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: Req. No. 700 Page 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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; Req. No. 700 Page 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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; Req. No. 700 Page 4 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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; Req. No. 700 Page 5 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 700 Page 6 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 700 Page 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 700 Page 8 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 700 Page 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 700 Page 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 700 Page 11 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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: Req. No. 700 Page 12 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 700 Page 13 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 700 Page 14 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 700 Page 15 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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; Req. No. 700 Page 16 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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. Req. No. 700 Page 17 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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 Req. No. 700 Page 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 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