H7817

Prohibits pharmacy benefits managers from refusing to provide coverage for a prescription drug chosen for a patient by the patient’s healthcare provider.

Introduced·2/26/26
Introduced Text

Rhode Island H7817 prohibits pharmacy benefits managers from denying coverage for a prescription drug chosen by a patient’s healthcare provider.

Rhode Island H7817 amends the Pharmacy Freedom of Choice — Fair Competition and Practices chapter to ensure that pharmacy benefits managers cannot refuse to provide coverage for a prescription drug selected by a prescriber for a patient. This prohibition applies regardless of the pharmacy benefits manager’s clinical judgment, cost containment protocols, formulary preferences, or step therapy requirements. Any action by a pharmacy benefits manager that denies, delays, or modifies a prescriber’s chosen drug for a patient must comply with specific regulations. The act takes effect upon passage.

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  • Overview
  • Core Provisions
  • Implementation
  • Impact
  • Legal Framework
  • Critical Issues

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Where it stands

Current
Health & Human Services Committee
Next
Committee decision

Sponsors

D
1
0
Democratic CaucusRepublican Caucus

History

Feb 26

House

Introduced, referred to House Health & Human Services