MS HB1708

Adds Executive Director of Mississippi Board of Pharmacy to the State and School Employees Health Insurance Management Board and requires their participation in evaluating pharmacy benefit proposals.

Establishes minimum reimbursement requirements for pharmacy benefit managers using national average drug acquisition cost plus professional dispensing fees equal to Mississippi Medicaid rates, prohibits charging plan sponsors more than what pharmacies are paid, and requires payment of clean claims within 7 days (electronic) or 35 days (paper).

Requires pharmacy benefit managers to obtain licenses from the Board of Pharmacy, pass 100% of manufacturer rebates to the plan, prohibit patient copayments exceeding total pharmacy reimbursement, and establish reasonable administrative appeal procedures for pharmacy reimbursement challenges.

Prohibits pharmacy benefit managers from making referrals to affiliate pharmacies, retroactively denying claims, retaliating against pharmacists/pharmacies, or paying network pharmacies less than affiliate pharmacies for the same services.

Authorizes the Board of Pharmacy to audit pharmacy benefit managers, impose monetary penalties up to $25,000 per violation, obtain injunctions against prohibited practices, and requires PBMs to disclose contracts to state entities upon request or face 5-year ban from doing business in Mississippi.