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RI H7817
Bill
Status
2/26/2026
Primary Sponsor
Charlene Lima
Click for details
AI Summary
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Pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) must accept and honor a prescriber's chosen prescription drug for a patient without substitution, denial, or rejection
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PBMs are prohibited from overriding prescriber decisions based on the PBM's own clinical judgment, cost containment protocols, formulary preferences, or step therapy requirements
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Any PBM action that denies, delays, or modifies a prescriber's drug choice is classified as unlawful interference with the practice of medicine, subject to penalties from the Department of Business Regulation
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Adds a new definition of "prescriber" as any Rhode Island-licensed healthcare professional authorized to prescribe drugs
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Takes effect immediately upon passage
Legislative Description
Prohibits pharmacy benefits managers from refusing to provide coverage for a prescription drug chosen for a patient by the patient’s healthcare provider.
Insurance
Last Action
Introduced, referred to House Health & Human Services
2/26/2026