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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to discriminatory practices by a health benefit plan |
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issuer, pharmacy benefit manager, and third-party payor with |
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respect to certain entities participating in a federal drug |
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discount program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 1369, Insurance Code, is amended by |
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adding Subchapter O to read as follows: |
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SUBCHAPTER O. PROHIBITION ON DISCRIMINATION WITH RESPECT TO |
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FEDERAL 340B DRUG DISCOUNT PROGRAM |
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Sec. 1369.701. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: |
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(1) "Covered entity" has the meaning assigned by 42 |
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U.S.C. Section 256b(a)(4). |
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(2) "Non-covered entity" means an entity that is not a |
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covered entity. |
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(3) "Pharmacy benefit manager" has the meaning |
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assigned by Section 4151.151. |
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(4) "Third-party payor" means any person, other than a |
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pharmacy benefit manager, health benefit plan issuer, patient, or |
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individual paying for a patient's drugs on the patient's behalf, |
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that makes payment for drugs dispensed by a pharmacist or pharmacy |
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or administered by a health care professional. |
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Sec. 1369.702. APPLICABILITY OF SUBCHAPTER. (a) This |
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subchapter applies only to a health benefit plan that provides |
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benefits for medical or surgical expenses incurred as a result of a |
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health condition, accident, or sickness, including an individual, |
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group, blanket, or franchise insurance policy or insurance |
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agreement, a group hospital service contract, or an individual or |
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group evidence of coverage or similar coverage document that is |
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issued by: |
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(1) an insurance company; |
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(2) a group hospital service corporation operating |
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under Chapter 842; |
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(3) a health maintenance organization operating under |
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Chapter 843; |
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(4) an approved nonprofit health corporation that |
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holds a certificate of authority under Chapter 844; |
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(5) a multiple employer welfare arrangement that holds |
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a certificate of authority under Chapter 846; |
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(6) a stipulated premium company operating under |
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Chapter 884; |
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(7) a fraternal benefit society operating under |
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Chapter 885; |
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(8) a Lloyd's plan operating under Chapter 941; or |
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(9) an exchange operating under Chapter 942. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any other law, this subchapter applies |
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to: |
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(1) a small employer health benefit plan subject to |
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Chapter 1501, including coverage provided through a health group |
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cooperative under Subchapter B of that chapter; |
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(2) a standard health benefit plan issued under |
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Chapter 1507; |
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(3) a basic coverage plan under Chapter 1551; |
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(4) a basic plan under Chapter 1575; |
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(5) a primary care coverage plan under Chapter 1579; |
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(6) a plan providing basic coverage under Chapter |
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1601; |
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(7) nonprofit agricultural organization health |
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benefits offered by a nonprofit agricultural organization under |
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Chapter 1682; |
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(8) alternative health benefit coverage offered by a |
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subsidiary of the Texas Mutual Insurance Company under Subchapter |
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M, Chapter 2054; |
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(9) health benefits provided by or through a church |
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benefits board under Subchapter I, Chapter 22, Business |
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Organizations Code; |
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(10) group health coverage made available by a school |
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district in accordance with Section 22.004, Education Code; |
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(11) the state Medicaid program, including the |
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Medicaid managed care program operated under Chapter 540, |
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Government Code; |
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(12) the child health plan program under Chapter 62, |
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Health and Safety Code; |
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(13) a regional or local health care program operated |
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under Section 75.104, Health and Safety Code; |
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(14) a self-funded health benefit plan sponsored by a |
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professional employer organization under Chapter 91, Labor Code; |
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(15) county employee group health benefits provided |
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under Chapter 157, Local Government Code; and |
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(16) health and accident coverage provided by a risk |
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pool created under Chapter 172, Local Government Code. |
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Sec. 1369.703. PROHIBITION ON DISCRIMINATORY ACTIONS. A |
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health benefit plan issuer, pharmacy benefit manager, or |
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third-party payor may not: |
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(1) reimburse a covered entity or a pharmacist or |
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pharmacy that is under contract with the entity for a prescription |
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drug at a rate lower than the rate paid to a non-covered entity for |
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the same drug; |
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(2) impose a term on a covered entity that differs from |
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the terms applied to non-covered entities on the basis that the |
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entity is a covered entity, including: |
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(A) a fee, chargeback, or other adjustment that |
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is not placed on non-covered entities; or |
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(B) a restriction or requirement regarding |
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participation in a health benefit plan issuer, pharmacy benefit |
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manager, or third-party payor network, including a requirement that |
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a covered entity enter into a contract with a specific pharmacy or |
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pharmacist; or |
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(3) create a restriction applicable to or impose an |
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additional charge on a patient who chooses to receive a |
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prescription drug from a covered entity. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter O, Chapter 1369, Insurance Code, as |
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added by this Act, applies only to a health benefit plan delivered, |
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issued for delivery, or renewed on or after January 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 3. It is the intent of the legislature that every |
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provision, section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase, or word |
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in this Act, and every application of the provisions in this Act to |
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every person, group of persons, or circumstances, is severable from |
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each other. If any application of any provision in this Act to any |
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person, group of persons, or circumstances is found by a court to be |
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invalid for any reason, the remaining applications of that |
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provision to all other persons and circumstances shall be severed |
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and may not be affected. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |