PHARMACISTS: Provides relative to the pharmacy education support fee collected by the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy
Summary
HB 469 revises how the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy collects and distributes the annual $100 pharmacy education support fee assessed on pharmacist license renewals and pharmacy permit renewals. Under current law, the fee is dedicated to an accredited school of pharmacy at a public university. The bill keeps the fee in place, but changes the allocation rules so the renewing pharmacist or permit holder may designate which eligible pharmacy school receives the money. The renewal forms must list eligible schools, and the bill specifically identifies Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy as an eligible recipient.
The bill also removes the prior restriction that the recipient school must be part of a public university, broadening eligibility beyond public institutions. The Board of Pharmacy must continue to disburse collected funds annually by April 1, and the recipient school must use the money solely for its pharmacy education program, with expenditures approved by the relevant university board of supervisors. The bill preserves the existing option for a pharmacist or pharmacy to elect not to pay the fee at renewal.
In practical terms, HB 469 amends Louisiana law governing pharmacist licenses and pharmacy permits by changing the destination of a dedicated fee rather than altering the fee amount or the renewal process itself. It affects the Louisiana Board of Pharmacy, pharmacists, pharmacies, and pharmacy schools that may receive these funds. The measure is designed to supplement, not replace, other funding sources for pharmacy education programs.
The general sentiment reflected in the available history appears strongly favorable: the House passed the bill unanimously, 94-0, suggesting broad support and little visible opposition at that stage. No committee transcript is available in the provided materials, and the bill was pending Senate Health and Welfare consideration as of the last action noted.
The main point of potential contention is the expansion of eligible recipients from public university pharmacy schools to include other accredited pharmacy schools, especially Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy. That change may raise questions about how the fee is distributed, whether the designation process creates administrative complexity, and whether directing funds to a non-public institution changes the original purpose of the fee. However, the available record does not show any recorded opposition.
Impact
HB 469 amends R.S. 37:1207 and 37:1230, the statutes governing renewal of pharmacist licenses and pharmacy permits, to change the allocation of the pharmacy education support fee. It expands the class of eligible recipients beyond accredited pharmacy schools at public universities, requires the Board of Pharmacy to present a list of eligible schools on renewal forms, and allows the renewing pharmacist or pharmacy to choose the recipient school. The bill also expressly includes Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy as an eligible recipient and retains the annual April 1 disbursement deadline.
Sentiment
The available voting history indicates strong support for HB 469, with unanimous House passage (94 yeas, 0 nays). No committee debate or recorded opposition is included in the provided materials, so the overall sentiment appears positive and noncontroversial at the House stage. The bill was still pending Senate Health and Welfare consideration in the materials provided.
Contention
The likely area of contention is the bill’s removal of the requirement that the recipient pharmacy school be part of a public university, which broadens eligibility to other accredited schools and specifically benefits Xavier University of Louisiana College of Pharmacy. Some may view that as a fair expansion of support for pharmacy education, while others could question whether a fee collected through state licensing should be directed to a private institution. Another possible issue is the administrative burden of allowing individual designation of recipients on renewal forms, though the record provided does not show active opposition.
Urges the attorney general and the Louisiana Department of Insurance to investigate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) for potential violations of law and to urge and request the legislature to pass legislation prohibiting PBMs from owning or having a financial interest in pharmacies in this state