An act to amend Section 14184.800 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, relating to Medi-Cal. add Section 1385.007 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to pharmacy benefit managers.
Summary
AB 1773 makes two related changes to California health law. First, it requires the Department of Managed Health Care to maintain a public website listing key licensing information for each licensed pharmacy benefit manager, including the entity’s legal name, license number and status, initial licensure date, and license expiration date. The bill is tied to the state’s new PBM licensure framework and is intended to make that information easier for the public, regulators, and contracting health plans or insurers to find.
Second, the bill makes a technical, nonsubstantive change to existing Medi-Cal law governing prerelease services for qualifying inmates under CalAIM. The underlying Medi-Cal provision already allows eligible inmates to receive targeted Medi-Cal services for up to 90 days before release, limited to services approved in the CalAIM Terms and Conditions, and requires an evaluation report if federal approval is obtained. AB 1773 does not appear to change the substance of that prerelease benefit; it mainly updates the statutory language while leaving the program structure intact.
Impact
The bill would add a new Health and Safety Code section requiring DMHC to publish a public PBM licensing directory and would reinforce transparency around pharmacy benefit manager licensure in California. It would also leave the existing Medi-Cal prerelease services framework in place, with only a technical amendment to Welfare and Institutions Code Section 14184.800. The bill states that the PBM website requirement should be implemented using existing resources unless additional funding is needed, in which case it would depend on a future appropriation.
Sentiment
The available voting record shows strong, unanimous support at each stage, with no recorded opposition in committee or on the floor. The bill was moved to the consent calendar and passed the Assembly 73-0, suggesting it was viewed as a noncontroversial measure. The absence of committee transcript discussion also indicates there was little public debate or visible resistance in the available record.
Contention
There is little evidence of substantive contention in the available materials. The only potential issue is administrative and fiscal: the bill directs DMHC to create and maintain a public PBM website using existing resources, but allows the requirement to depend on future funding if additional resources are needed. Otherwise, the bill’s Medi-Cal language is described as technical and nonsubstantive, and no opposition arguments or stakeholder disputes are reflected in the voting history provided.
Pharmacy benefits managers and prescription drug costs; to provide a penalty; to provide an appropriation; to provide for a transfer; to provide an effective date; to provide an expiration date; and to declare an emergency.
AN ACT to create and enact four new sections to chapter 26.1-27.1 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to pharmacy benefits managers and a pharmacy benefit manager enforcement fund; to amend and reenact subsection 1 of section 26.1-01-07, sections 26.1-27.1-01, 26.1-27.1-02, 26.1-27.1-04, 26.1-27.1-06 and 26.1-27.1-07 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to pharmacy benefits managers; to repeal section 26.1-27-01.1 and chapter 26.1-36.10 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to pharmacy benefits managers and prescription drug costs; to provide a penalty; to provide an appropriation; to provide for a transfer; to provide an effective date; to provide an expiration date; and to declare an emergency.