06/26/2025
Aggressive legislation in Louisiana!
“NCPA June 26, 2025
In a press conference on Tuesday, Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry (R) and Attorney General Liz Murrill announced the state was filing three lawsuits against CVS Healthcare Corporation, Caremark, and all their affiliated entities. The violations alleged in the lawsuit center mainly around the state’s unfair trade practices act and antitrust statutes. The actions of CVS during a heated legislative battle led to allegations of misuse of patient information by CVS. In describing the lawsuits filed, Murrill stated that the lawsuits “detail in great length all of the ways that these manipulative tactics are used to drive our prices up and to drive the independent pharmacists out of business.” Landry also stated that he will be looking into whether he can take action against PBMs through executive authority and would consider calling back the legislature for a special session. He pointed out that despite all their claims, PBMs are “not negotiating to lower your costs, they are negotiating to increase their profits quarter after quarter so their stock prices goes up.”
Also, Landry signed H.B. 264, sponsored by Rep. Michael Echols (R), into law. This represents the strongest and most significant PBM reform legislation passed in Louisiana, or anywhere. It provides much-needed regulations and, just as important, provides strong enforcement tools for the state. This legislation, among other things:
Prohibits steering of patients to PBM-affiliated pharmacies without the patient’s consent;
Creates a stringent definition for “specialty drugs;”
Requires an acquisition-based reimbursement, including a dispensing fee for local pharmacies and a pathway to challenge the reimbursement;
Bans all fees charged to pharmacists;
Bans spread pricing; and
Prohibits PBMs from retaining rebates.
Congratulations to the Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association and all the pharmacy advocates down in the bayou. Well done.
NCPA”