Bill > SB1545

This bill prohibits pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), which are companies that manage prescription drug benefits on behalf of health insurers, from owning or holding permits for retail pharmacies that sell prescription drugs in Arizona. If a PBM violates this rule, the Arizona State Board of Pharmacy will revoke or not renew their permit. However, the board can issue a special "limited service pharmacy permit" for pharmacies that dispense rare, orphaned, or limited-distribution drugs that are otherwise unavailable, and the board will assess the need for these drugs before taking action against a pharmacy's permit. The bill also outlines rules for notifying patients and healthcare providers if a pharmacy can no longer dispense retail drugs due to these changes, and it includes exceptions for certain pharmacy employers and their affiliated PBMs. The bill defines a PBM broadly to include entities managed by or subsidiaries of PBMs, or those with ownership interests in PBMs, and it will take effect on January 1, 2027.

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/85157