In Review: The committee deadline in Mississippi was this past Tuesday, and bills that contained Forced Pharmacy Closure (FPC) provisions died. However, HB 1665 by Chairman Henry Zuber (R) did pass out of committee, with a committee sub that was not provided during the committee. The following day, PCMA and members were able to get their hands on the committee sub to HB 1665, hours before the bill was brought up on the House floor. As amended, the bill bans spread pricing and steering in the state-regulated commercial marketplace, transfers PBM oversight from the Board of Pharmacy to the Department of Insurance, and establishes several reporting requirements for PBMs, PSAOs, and PhRMA, but does not include FPC provisions. House Bill 1665 passed the full House on Wednesday afternoon as amended in committee.

Up Next: PCMA and member companies are reviewing the bill as passed by the House to determine next steps. We do not anticipate the bill moving in the Senate before February 13, but we will obviously be closely engaged if anything changes.

If you have any questions, please contact Michael Power at mpower@pcmanet.org.