NACDS is hailing the enactment of Texas House Bill (HB) 1919 – legislation that will enhance Texans’ access to convenient care by helping protect Texans’ ability to receive pharmacy services from the pharmacy provider that best suits their individual needs.
HB 1919 became law in Texas on Friday, June 18. The new law will become effective on September 1, 2021, and will apply to pharmacy benefits managers’ (PBM) actions that take place on or after January 1, 2022.
Of critical importance, the law will help maintain patients’ right to choose a pharmacy provider by prohibiting health benefit plans and PBMs from directing patients to use any particular pharmacy provider over another.
Specifically, the measure prohibits PBMs from exclusively requiring the purchase of pharmacy services through a certain mail-order pharmacy or imposing a monetary advantage or penalty under a health benefit plan that would affect a patient’s choice of pharmacy.
“The enactment of House Bill 1919 is a major victory for the patients that community retail pharmacies serve,” said NACDS President and CEO Steven C. Anderson. “The new law will help ensure the continued viability of pharmacies in Texas so that pharmacies’ doors stay open to serve the unique health and wellness needs of Texans in every corner of the state. NACDS sincerely thanks Governor Greg Abbott (R), State Representative Cody Harris (R), State Senator Charles Schwertner (R) and the Texas legislature for advancing crucial legislation which will help ensure the continuity of care by ensuring patient choice.”
HB 1919 is the second piece of PBM reform legislation enacted in Texas this year. In May, Governor Abbott signed into law House Bill 1763 – legislation that improves patients’ access to prescription drugs by helping to ensure that Texas pharmacies are fairly and adequately reimbursed for the pharmacy-based services and prescription medications they provide.
