Bill > SB865

This bill modifies various provisions related to palliative care, the Board of Pharmacy, pharmacists, health insurance, and pharmacy benefit managers. It establishes a Missouri Palliative Care and Quality of Life Interdisciplinary Council to improve patient-centered and family-focused care, and creates a Palliative Care Consumer and Professional Information and Education Program to disseminate information and resources. The bill also requires licensees and permit holders of the Board of Pharmacy to report final adverse actions taken by other licensing bodies, and allows pharmacists to dispense varying quantities of maintenance medications (excluding controlled substances) up to the prescribed amount, with refills limited to a 90-day supply if the medication has been prescribed for at least three months. Additionally, it updates renewal requirements for nonresident pharmacy licenses and out-of-state wholesale drug distributors, and introduces provisions for medication synchronization services by health carriers, requiring them to align refill dates and not charge excess co-payments for partial fills. The bill also includes new regulations for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) regarding maximum allowable cost (MAC) lists, requiring transparency in pricing sources, regular updates, and a dispute resolution process for pharmacies. Furthermore, it enacts the "Missouri Health Insurance Rate Transparency Act," requiring health carriers to file rates with the director of insurance for review, with specific procedures for different types of health benefit plans, and modifies rules for small employer health insurance carriers regarding classes of business, premium rate setting, and renewability of plans. Finally, it extends the termination date for coverage of prescription eye drops to January 1, 2020.