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6005 - Pharmacy Benefit Managers Transparency Requirements

 
Implementation Status 
Statutory Text 

Summary

Specifies that a health benefits plan or PBM that manages prescription drug coverage under a contract with a PDP or MA-PD under Medicare Part D or with a QHP under the Exchange provide stipulated information to the Secretary of HHS.  Specifically, such information must include: the generic dispensing rate (by pharmacy type); the aggregate amount, and the type of rebates, discounts, or price concessions (excluding bona fide service fees) that are attributable to patient utilization and those that are passed on to the plan sponsor, and the total number of prescriptions that were dispensed; and the difference between the amount the health benefits plan pays the PBM and the amount that the PBM pays retail pharmacies, and mail order pharmacies, and the total number of prescriptions that were dispensed.  Provides for the confidential treatment of such information disclosed by the health benefits plan or PBM to HHS, with certain exceptions.  Stipulates the application of penalties to a health benefits plan that fails to comply with this requirement.

Implementation Status

 
Summary 
Statutory Text 

Prior to January 2013, CMS addressed this provision in the final “Exchange” rule released in the spring of 2012, which codified standards relative to the directive to QHP issuers and Part D sponsors to provide data on the cost and distribution of prescription drugs covered by the plan.  Later that spring, CMS effectuated changes relative to the reporting requirements, confidentiality protections, and penalty provisions applicable under this section in its CY 2013 MA and Part D final rule.

Statutory Text

 
Implementation Status 
Summary 

SEC. 6005. PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENTS. Part A of title XI of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 1150 the following new section: ‘‘SEC. 1150A ø42 U.S.C. 1320b–23¿. PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS TRANSPARENCY REQUIREMENTS. ‘‘(a) PROVISION OF INFORMATION.—A health benefits plan or any entity that provides pharmacy benefits management services on behalf of a health benefits plan (in this section referred to as a ‘PBM’) that manages prescription drug coverage under a contract with—‘‘(1) a PDP sponsor of a prescription drug plan or an MA organization offering an MA–PD plan under part D of title XVIII; or ‘‘(2) a qualified health benefits plan offered through an exchange established by a State under section 1311 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, shall provide the information described in subsection (b) to the Secretary and, in the case of a PBM, to the plan with which the PBM is under contract with, at such times, and in such form and manner, as the Secretary shall specify. ‘‘(b) INFORMATION DESCRIBED.—The information described in this subsection is the following with respect to services provided by a health benefits plan or PBM for a contract year: ‘‘(1) The percentage of all prescriptions that were provided through retail pharmacies compared to mail order pharmacies, and the percentage of prescriptions for which a generic drug was available and dispensed (generic dispensing rate), by pharmacy type (which includes an independent pharmacy, chain pharmacy, supermarket pharmacy, or mass merchandiser pharmacy that is licensed as a pharmacy by the State and that dispenses medication to the general public), that is paid by the health benefits plan or PBM under the contract. ‘‘(2) The aggregate amount, and the type of rebates, discounts, or price concessions (excluding bona fide service fees, which include but are not limited to distribution service fees, inventory management fees, product stocking allowances, and fees associated with administrative services agreements and patient care programs (such as medication compliance programs and patient education programs)) that the PBM negotiates that are attributable to patient utilization under the plan, and the aggregate amount of the rebates, discounts, or price concessions that are passed through to the plan sponsor, and the total number of prescriptions that were dispensed. ‘‘(3) The aggregate amount of the difference between the amount the health benefits plan pays the PBM and the amount that the PBM pays retail pharmacies, and mail order pharmacies, and the total number of prescriptions that were dispensed. ‘‘(c) CONFIDENTIALITY.—Information disclosed by a health benefits plan or PBM under this section is confidential and shall not be disclosed by the Secretary or by a plan receiving the information, except that the Secretary may disclose the information in a form which does not disclose the identity of a specific PBM, plan, or prices charged for drugs, for the following purposes: ‘‘(1) As the Secretary determines to be necessary to carry out this section or part D of title XVIII. ‘‘(2) To permit the Comptroller General to review the information provided. ‘‘(3) To permit the Director of the Congressional Budget Office to review the information provided. ‘‘(4) To States to carry out section 1311 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. ‘‘(d) PENALTIES.—The provisions of subsection (b)(3)(C) of section 1927 shall apply to a health benefits plan or PBM that fails to provide information required under subsection (a) on a timely basis or that knowingly provides false information in the same manner as such provisions apply to a manufacturer with an agreement under that section.’’.

Browse ACA Titles

  • I-Quality, Affordable Health Care for all Americans
  • II-Role of Public Programs
  • III-Improving the Quality and Efficiency of Health Care
  • IV-Prevention of Chronic Disease and Improving Public Health
  • V-Health Care Workforce
  • VI-Transparency and Program Integrity
  • VII-Improving Access to Innovative Medical Therapies
  • VIII-Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS ACT)
  • IX-Revenue Provisions

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