HB 1217

HLS 26RS-1830  REENGROSSED
 2026 Regular Session
 HOUSE BILL NO. 1217
 BY REPRESENTATIVE ECHOLS
 HEALTH: Provides with respect to pharmacy benefit managers
1AN ACT
2 To enact Subpart C-2 of Part II of Chapter 6 of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes
3of 1950, to be comprised of R.S. 22:1870.11 through 1870.22, R.S. 40:2864(D) and
4(E), relative to pharmacy benefit managers, insurers, and third-party administrators;
5to enhance transparency, reporting, and disclosure of affiliated entities; to establish
6audit and enforcement authority; to provide for civil penalties, treble damages, and
7cost recovery; to create the Pharmacy Benefit Enforcement Fund; to provide for
8oversight and accountability in pharmacy benefit management; and to provide for
9related matters.
10 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
11Section 1. Subpart C-2 of Part II of Chapter 6 of Title 22 of the Louisiana Revised
12 Statutes of 1950, comprised of R.S. 22:1870.11 through 1870.22, is hereby enacted to read
13 as follows:
14SUBPART C-2. PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER TRANSPARENCY
15§1870.11. Legislative intent
16A. The legislature declares that the purpose of this Subpart is to do all of the
17of the following:
18(1) Promote full transparency and accountability in pharmacy benefit
19management, including disclosure of affiliated and related entities, financial
20relationships, and services provided.
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1(2) Address gaps in enforcement, affiliated entity transactions, and self-
2funded plan arrangements not fully captured under existing law.
3(3) Provide meaningful enforcement mechanisms to ensure compliance.
4B. This Subpart shall be interpreted in pari materia with the provisions of
5this Title and shall not be construed to limit or replace any requirement therein.
6§1870.12. Affiliate and related-entity transparency
7A. A pharmacy benefit manager or insurer shall disclose all affiliated or
8related entities involved in pharmacy-related services, including the complete
9corporate vertical integration structure of all components related to the pharmacy
10benefit manager, insurer, group purchasing organization, and manufacturer.
11B. A pharmacy benefit manager or insurer shall disclose any affiliated entity
12involved in any of the following:
13(1) Specialty pharmacy.
14(2) Mail-order pharmacy.
15(3) Rebate aggregation.
16(4) Data analytics.
17(5) Utilization management.
18(6) Prior authorization services.
19C. Disclosures shall include ownership structure, financial relationships, and
20revenue flows between entities.
21D. Any compensation flowing through an affiliated entity shall be deemed
22a pharmacy benefit manager compensation for regulatory purposes.
23§1870.13. Administrative services only and self-funded plan transparency
24A. A pharmacy benefit manager or insurer administering self-funded plans
25shall provide an annual full financial reconciliation to plan sponsors, including
26identification of all fees, rebates, administrative offsets, negotiated price concessions,
27performance-based price concessions, and affiliated-entity payments. A pharmacy
28benefit manager shall disclose all pharmacy benefit management fees in writing and
29shall certify annually under oath that all rebates have been passed through to the plan
30sponsor as required. All information is subject to audit by the commissioner.
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1B. A contract provision shall not do any of the following:
2(1) Restrict a plan sponsor's access to claims-level data.
3(2) Prohibit disclosure to regulators.
4§1870.14. Enhanced claims-level reporting
5A. A pharmacy benefit manager or insurer shall file quarterly claims-level
6reports with the commissioner and the attorney general.
7B. A pharmacy benefit manager or insurer shall file quarterly claims-level
8reports with the commissioner and the attorney general. Reports shall include billed
9and paid amounts, all direct and indirect remuneration, identification of affiliated
10entities involved in each transaction, post-sale adjustments, and any negotiated price
11concessions or performance-based price concessions associated with the claim.
12Reports shall also include the total reimbursement paid to network pharmacies in this
13state, identified by local and non-local pharmacy. All information shall be subject
14to examination by the commissioner.
15§1870.15. Prohibition on indirect spread and recharacterization
16A. A pharmacy benefit manager shall not recharacterize spread pricing
17through administrative fees, affiliate payments, data charges, or service charges.
18B. Any such recharacterization shall constitute a violation of this Section, and
19shall be treated as an unfair or deceptive act or practice subject to all enforcement
20authority granted to the commissioner in accordance with this Title, including
21restitution, disgorgement, and treble damages where applicable.
22§1870.16. Audit and examination authority
23A. The commissioner and the attorney general may conduct forensic
24financial audits, examine affiliated entities, and review intercompany transactions.
25B. A pharmacy benefit manager or insurer shall maintain records sufficient
26to trace all revenue streams and identify all sources of compensation.
27§1870.17. Enforcement authority
28A. The attorney general shall have concurrent jurisdiction with the
29commissioner to enforce this Subpart.
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1B. The attorney general may initiate civil enforcement actions, subpoena
2records, and seek injunctive relief.
3§1870.18. Civil penalties
4A. If a violation of this Subpart occurs, the attorney general shall impose a
5civil penalty of one million dollars per violation. A violation shall constitute an
6unfair or deceptive act or practice subject to all enforcement authority granted to the
7commissioner and the attorney general, including restitution, disgorgement, and
8treble damages for knowing or willful violations.
9B. Each of the following constitutes a separate violation:
10(1) Each claim involving undisclosed remuneration.
11(2) Each failure to disclose affiliated relationships.
12(3) Each failure to provide required reporting.
13C. Courts may order restitution and disgorgement of profits.
14§1870.19. Pharmacy benefit enforcement fund
15A. There is hereby established in the state treasury, as a special fund, the
16Pharmacy Benefit Enforcement Fund hereafter referred to in this Section as the
17"fund".
18B. After allocation of monies to the Bond Security and Redemption Fund as
19provided in Article VII, Section (9)(B) of the Constitution of Louisiana, the treasurer
20shall deposit into the fund monies transferred, appropriated, or dedicated to the fund.
21Monies in the fund shall be appropriated by the legislature to support all of the
22following:
23(1) Create a publicly accessible transparency portal to publish aggregated
24pharmacy benefit manager data derived from reporting provided for in this Subpart.
25(2) Establish a restitution mechanism for plan sponsors, patients, or
26pharmacies harmed by unlawful pharmacy benefit manager practices.
27(3) Provide grants or stabilization payments to independent and rural
28pharmacies disproportionately impacted by reimbursement practices identified
29through enforcement actions.
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1(4)    Fund consumer assistance programs to help individuals navigate
2pharmacy benefits, file complaints, and recover improperly charged costs.
3(5) Reduce the cost of prescription drugs of Louisiana residents.
4C. Monies in the fund shall be invested in the same manner as monies in the
5state general fund. Interest earned on investment of monies in the fund shall be
6credited to the fund. Unexpended and unencumbered monies in the fund at the end
7of the fiscal year shall remain in the fund.
8§1870.20. Recovery of costs
9The attorney general may recover attorney fees, investigative costs, and
10expert fees in addition to all penalties.
11§1870.21. Whistleblower protections
12A. Individuals reporting violations of this Subpart shall be protected from
13retaliation.
14B. Whistleblowers may receive up to twenty-five percent of recovered funds.
15§1870.22. Anti-evasion clause
16A pharmacy benefit manager shall not avoid compliance with this Subpart
17through affiliates, subcontractors, recharacterization of payments, or multi-entity
18arrangements. Violations shall be treated as direct violations.
19Section 2. R.S. 40:2864(D) and (E) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
20§2864. Duties of pharmacy benefit managers
21*       *  *
22D. Disclosure requirements applicable to pharmacy benefit managers and
23insurers shall be governed by R.S. 22:1870.11 et seq.
24E. Any compensation flowing through an affiliated entity shall be deemed
25pharmacy benefit manager compensation for regulatory purposes.
26Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
27 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
28 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
29 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
30 effective on the day following such approval.
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HLS 26RS-1830  REENGROSSED
  HB NO. 1217
  DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 1217 Reengrossed  2026 Regular Session  Echols
Abstract: Provides for transparency, accountability, and enforcement mechanisms related
  to pharmacy benefit managers, insurers, health maintenance organizations,
  third-party administrators, and their affiliates.
Proposed law provides for transparency, reporting, and enforcement requirements applicable
to pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), insurers, health maintenance organizations,
third-party administrators, and affiliated entities.
Proposed law requires PBMs and insurers to disclose all affiliated or related entities involved
in pharmacy-related services. Disclosures must include the complete corporate vertical
integration structure of all components related to the PBM, insurer, group purchasing
organization, manufacturer, wholesale distributor, specialty or mail-order pharmacy, retail
or long-term care pharmacy, and provider. Disclosures must also identify each service
provided by an affiliate or subsidiary, the number of such services, by whom they were
provided, and the dollar amounts associated with those services. All compensation flowing
through an affiliated entity is deemed PBM compensation for regulatory purposes.
Proposed law requires PBMs and insurers administering self-funded plans to provide an
annual full financial reconciliation to plan sponsors, including identification of all fees,
rebates, administrative offsets, negotiated price concessions, performance-based price
concessions, and affiliated-entity payments. Prohibits contract provisions restricting access
to claims-level data or limiting disclosure to regulators.
Proposed law requires quarterly claims-level reporting to the commissioner of insurance
(commissioner) and attorney general, including billed and paid amounts, all direct and
indirect remuneration, affiliated entities involved in each transaction, post-sale adjustments,
and negotiated or performance-based price concessions. Requires reporting of total
reimbursement paid to network pharmacies in the state, identified by local and non-local
pharmacies. Authorizes the commissioner to examine books and records to verify accuracy.
Proposed law prohibits recharacterization of spread pricing through administrative fees,
affiliate payments, data charges, or service charges. Provides that such conduct constitutes
an unfair or deceptive act or practice subject to enforcement by the commissioner and
attorney general, including restitution, disgorgement, and treble damages for knowing or
willful violations.
Proposed law grants the commissioner and attorney general authority to conduct forensic
financial audits, examine affiliated entities, and review intercompany transactions.
Establishes concurrent enforcement jurisdiction for the attorney general and authorizes civil
actions, subpoenas, and injunctive relief.
Proposed law establishes a minimum civil penalty of $1,000,000 per violation. The attorney
general is responsible for collecting a civil penalty. Each undisclosed remuneration, failure
to disclose an affiliated relationship, or failure to provide required reporting constitutes a
separate violation. Authorizes restitution, disgorgement, treble damages for knowing or
willful violations, and recovery of attorney fees, investigative costs, and expert fees.
Proposed law establishes the Pharmacy Benefit Enforcement Fund in the state treasury and
provides for deposit, investment, and legislative appropriation of monies to support a
transparency portal, restitution for harmed parties, assistance and stabilization for
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pharmacies, consumer support programs, and initiatives to reduce prescription drug costs,
with remaining balances retained in the fund at year's end.
Proposed law provides whistleblower protections and authorizes awards of up to 25% of
recovered funds. Prohibits evasion through affiliates, subcontractors, recharacterization of
payments, or multi-entity arrangements.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 22:1870.11-1870.22 and R.S. 40:2864(D) and (E))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
   The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to
  the original bill:
   1.      Make technical changes.
   2.      Remove provisions relative to applicability.
   3.      Provide that civil penalties apply to a violation of proposed law.
   4.      Remove duplicative provisions relative to treble damages.
   The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
   1.      Make technical changes.
   2.      Provide for the permissible uses of funds collected from a civil penalty collected
  pursuant to proposed law.
   3.      Provide that the attorney general may collect civil penalties for violations of
  proposed law.
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