Bill Text: TX HB2231 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the practices and operation of pharmacy benefit managers; providing administrative penalties.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 18-3)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-04-02 - Left pending in committee [HB2231 Detail]
Download: Texas-2019-HB2231-Introduced.html
86R488 PMO-D | ||
By: Oliverson | H.B. No. 2231 |
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relating to the practices and operation of pharmacy benefit | ||
managers; providing administrative penalties. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. The heading to Subchapter H, Chapter 1369, | ||
Insurance Code, is amended to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER H. PRICING AND REIMBURSEMENT PRACTICES; APPEALS AND | ||
COMPLAINTS [ |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter H, Chapter 1369, Insurance Code, is | ||
amended by adding Sections 1369.3581, 1369.3582, and 1369.3583 to | ||
read as follows: | ||
Sec. 1369.3581. PROHIBITED REIMBURSEMENT PRACTICES; | ||
RETROACTIVE REDUCTION OR DENIAL OF CLAIM. A pharmacy benefit | ||
manager may not on an aggregated basis or otherwise reduce or deny a | ||
claim for pharmacy services after adjudication of the claim unless | ||
the pharmacy benefit manager produces to the pharmacist or pharmacy | ||
prima facie evidence of: | ||
(1) fraud or intentional misrepresentation related to | ||
the claim; and | ||
(2) actual financial harm to the relevant enrollee or | ||
health benefit plan issuer. | ||
Sec. 1369.3582. PRICING APPEALS GENERALLY. (a) The | ||
commissioner by rule shall: | ||
(1) prescribe a standard procedure by which a | ||
pharmacist or pharmacy may appeal to the pharmacy benefit manager | ||
any pricing decision made by a pharmacy benefit manager; | ||
(2) require a pharmacy benefit manager to use only the | ||
prescribed procedure for a pharmacist's or pharmacy's appeal of the | ||
pharmacy benefit manager's pricing decision; and | ||
(3) require a pharmacy benefit manager who denies an | ||
appeal to: | ||
(A) provide to the appealing pharmacist or | ||
pharmacy the National Drug Code number of the relevant drug sold at | ||
a price below the price subject to the appeal and the name of the | ||
national or regional pharmaceutical wholesalers operating in this | ||
state that currently stock the drug at the lower price; and | ||
(B) if the lower price described by Paragraph (A) | ||
is more than the appealing pharmacist's or pharmacy's pharmacy | ||
acquisition cost of the relevant drug bought from a pharmaceutical | ||
wholesaler from which the pharmacist or pharmacy regularly | ||
purchases the majority of the pharmacist's or pharmacy's drugs for | ||
resale: | ||
(i) adjust the Maximum Allowable Cost List | ||
price to an amount above the pharmacist's or pharmacy's pharmacy | ||
acquisition cost; and | ||
(ii) permit the pharmacist or pharmacy to | ||
reverse and rebill each claim affected by the pharmacist's or | ||
pharmacy's inability to purchase the drug at a cost that is equal to | ||
or less than the price subject to the appeal. | ||
(b) In prescribing the procedure under this section, the | ||
commissioner shall consider: | ||
(1) input from any interested party; | ||
(2) any appeal procedure that is widely used | ||
commercially in this state or by the department or the Centers for | ||
Medicare and Medicaid Services; and | ||
(3) any national standard or draft standard relating | ||
to the appeal of a pharmacy benefit manager's pricing decision. | ||
(c) The commissioner shall establish penalties for failure | ||
to use the procedure prescribed under this section in accordance | ||
with this subchapter. | ||
(d) A pharmacy benefit manager that violates this | ||
subchapter or a rule adopted under this subchapter commits an | ||
unfair practice in violation of Chapter 541 and is subject to | ||
sanctions under Chapter 82. | ||
Sec. 1369.3583. COMPLAINT PROGRAM. (a) The department | ||
shall establish a program to facilitate resolution of complaints | ||
against a pharmacy benefit manger relating to the pharmacy benefit | ||
manager's reimbursement practices. | ||
(b) A pharmacist or pharmacy may file a complaint with the | ||
department under the program established under Subsection (a) if | ||
the complaint includes credible evidence that a pharmacy benefit | ||
manager engaged in an intentional course of conduct exhibited | ||
through a pattern or practice that: | ||
(1) violates this chapter; or | ||
(2) constitutes improper, fraudulent, or dishonest | ||
contract performance with the pharmacist or pharmacy. | ||
(c) The commissioner shall determine by rule the threshold | ||
for filing a complaint under Subsection (b). | ||
(d) After receipt of a complaint satisfying the threshold | ||
established under Subsection (c), the commissioner shall provide | ||
notice to the pharmacy benefit manager that is the subject of the | ||
complaint and conduct a hearing to determine if the pharmacy | ||
benefit manager engaged in a course of conduct described by | ||
Subsection (b). The commissioner shall consider: | ||
(1) the contract between the pharmacist or pharmacy | ||
and the pharmacy benefit manager; | ||
(2) one or more independent nationwide drug pricing | ||
databases or reference materials, including National Average Drug | ||
Acquisition Cost reference data developed by the Centers for | ||
Medicare and Medicaid Services; and | ||
(3) any other relevant information. | ||
(e) The commissioner shall take appropriate disciplinary | ||
action against the pharmacy benefit manager as provided by this | ||
code if the commissioner finds that the pharmacy benefit manager | ||
engaged in a course of conduct described by Subsection (b). | ||
SECTION 3. The heading to Subchapter I, Chapter 1369, | ||
Insurance Code, is amended to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER I. PHARMACY BENEFIT CLAIM ADJUDICATION AND DISPUTE | ||
RESOLUTION | ||
SECTION 4. Subchapter I, Chapter 1369, Insurance Code, is | ||
amended by adding Sections 1369.403, 1369.404, 1369.405, 1369.406, | ||
1369.407, 1369.408, 1369.409, 1369.410, and 1369.411 to read as | ||
follows: | ||
Sec. 1369.403. REQUEST AND PRELIMINARY PROCEDURES FOR | ||
MANDATORY MEDIATION. (a) A pharmacist or pharmacy may request | ||
mandatory mediation under this subchapter. | ||
(b) A request for mandatory mediation must be provided to | ||
the department on a form prescribed by the commissioner and must | ||
include: | ||
(1) the name of the pharmacist or pharmacy requesting | ||
mediation; | ||
(2) a brief description of the claim to be mediated; | ||
(3) contact information, including a telephone | ||
number, for the requesting pharmacist or pharmacy and the | ||
pharmacist's or pharmacy's counsel, if the pharmacist or pharmacy | ||
retains counsel; | ||
(4) the name of the pharmacy benefit manager and name | ||
of the applicable health benefit plan issuer; and | ||
(5) any other information the commissioner may require | ||
by rule. | ||
(c) On receipt of a request for mediation, the department | ||
shall notify the pharmacy benefit manager and applicable health | ||
benefit plan issuer of the request. | ||
(d) In an effort to settle the claim before mediation, all | ||
parties must participate in an informal settlement teleconference | ||
not later than the 30th day after the date on which the pharmacist | ||
or pharmacy submits a request for mediation under this section. | ||
(e) A dispute to be mediated under this subchapter that does | ||
not settle as a result of a teleconference conducted under | ||
Subsection (d) must be conducted in the county in which the | ||
pharmacist or pharmacy is located. | ||
Sec. 1369.404. MEDIATOR QUALIFICATIONS. (a) Except as | ||
provided by Subsection (b), to qualify for an appointment as a | ||
mediator under this subchapter a person must have completed at | ||
least 40 classroom hours of training in dispute resolution | ||
techniques in a course conducted by an alternative dispute | ||
resolution organization or other dispute resolution organization | ||
approved by the chief administrative law judge. | ||
(b) A person not qualified under Subsection (a) may be | ||
appointed as a mediator on agreement of the parties. | ||
(c) A person may not act as mediator for a claim | ||
adjudication dispute if the person has been employed by, consulted | ||
for, or otherwise had a business relationship with a pharmacist, | ||
pharmacy, or pharmacy benefit manager during the three years | ||
immediately preceding the request for mediation. | ||
Sec. 1369.405. APPOINTMENT OF MEDIATOR; FEES. (a) A | ||
mediation shall be conducted by one mediator. | ||
(b) The chief administrative law judge shall appoint the | ||
mediator through a random assignment from a list of qualified | ||
mediators maintained by the State Office of Administrative | ||
Hearings. | ||
(c) Notwithstanding Subsection (b), a person other than a | ||
mediator appointed by the chief administrative law judge may | ||
conduct the mediation on agreement of all of the parties and notice | ||
to the chief administrative law judge. | ||
(d) The mediator's fees shall be split evenly and paid by | ||
the pharmacist or pharmacy and the pharmacy benefit manager. | ||
Sec. 1369.406. CONDUCT OF MEDIATION; CONFIDENTIALITY. (a) | ||
A mediator may not impose the mediator's judgment on a party about | ||
an issue that is a subject of the mediation. | ||
(b) A mediation session is under the control of the | ||
mediator. | ||
(c) Except as provided by this subchapter, the mediator must | ||
hold in strict confidence all information provided to the mediator | ||
by a party and all communications of the mediator with a party. | ||
(d) A party must have an opportunity during the mediation to | ||
speak and state the party's position. | ||
(e) Except on the agreement of the participating parties, a | ||
mediation may not last more than four hours. | ||
(f) Except at the request of a pharmacist or pharmacy, a | ||
mediation shall be held not later than the 180th day after the date | ||
of the request for mediation. | ||
Sec. 1369.407. MATTERS CONSIDERED IN MEDIATION; AGREED | ||
RESOLUTION. (a) In a mediation under this subchapter, the parties | ||
shall evaluate the adjudicated claim amount and whether the amount | ||
is in accordance with this chapter and the pharmacy benefit | ||
contract between the pharmacist or pharmacy and the pharmacy | ||
benefit manager. | ||
(b) The parties shall consider one or more independent | ||
nationwide drug pricing databases or reference materials, | ||
including National Average Drug Acquisition Cost reference data | ||
developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. | ||
(c) Nothing in this subchapter prohibits mediation of more | ||
than one adjudicated claim between the parties at a mediation. | ||
(d) The goal of the mediation is to reach an agreement among | ||
the pharmacist or pharmacy, the pharmacy benefit manager, and the | ||
health benefit plan issuer as to the amount paid to the pharmacist | ||
or pharmacy. | ||
Sec. 1369.408. NO AGREED RESOLUTION. (a) The mediator of | ||
an unsuccessful mediation under this subchapter shall report the | ||
outcome of the mediation to the department and the chief | ||
administrative law judge. | ||
(b) The chief administrative law judge shall enter an order | ||
of referral of a matter reported under Subsection (a) to a special | ||
judge under Chapter 151, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, that: | ||
(1) names the special judge on whom the parties agreed | ||
or appoints the special judge if the parties did not agree on a | ||
judge; | ||
(2) states the issues to be referred and the time and | ||
place on which the parties agree for the trial; | ||
(3) requires each party to pay the party's | ||
proportionate share of the special judge's fee; and | ||
(4) certifies that the parties have waived the right | ||
to trial by jury. | ||
(c) A trial by the special judge selected or appointed as | ||
described by Subsection (b) must proceed under Chapter 151, Civil | ||
Practice and Remedies Code, except that the special judge's verdict | ||
is not relevant or material to any other adjudicated claim and has | ||
no precedential value. | ||
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, | ||
Section 151.012, Civil Practice and Remedies Code, does not apply | ||
to a mediation under this subchapter. | ||
Sec. 1369.409. REPORT OF MEDIATOR. The mediator shall | ||
report to the commissioner: | ||
(1) the names of the parties to the mediation; and | ||
(2) whether the parties reached an agreement or the | ||
mediator made a referral under Section 1369.408. | ||
Sec. 1369.410. BAD FAITH. (a) The following conduct | ||
constitutes bad faith mediation for purposes of this subchapter: | ||
(1) failing to participate in the mediation; | ||
(2) failing to provide information the mediator | ||
believes is necessary to facilitate an agreement; or | ||
(3) failing to designate a representative | ||
participating in the mediation with full authority to enter into | ||
any mediated agreement. | ||
(b) Failure to reach an agreement is not conclusive proof of | ||
bad faith mediation. | ||
Sec. 1369.411. PENALTIES. (a) Bad faith mediation by a | ||
pharmacy benefit manager is grounds for imposition of an | ||
administrative penalty under Chapter 4151. | ||
(b) Except for good cause shown, on a report of a mediator | ||
and appropriate proof of bad faith mediation, the commissioner | ||
shall impose an administrative penalty. | ||
SECTION 5. Chapter 1369, Insurance Code, is amended by | ||
adding Subchapter K to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER K. PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGERS | ||
Sec. 1369.501. DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter: | ||
(1) "Enrollee" means an individual who is covered | ||
under a health benefit plan, including a covered dependent. | ||
(2) "Health benefit plan" means an individual, group, | ||
blanket, or franchise insurance policy or insurance agreement, a | ||
group hospital service contract, or an individual or group | ||
subscriber contract or evidence of coverage or similar coverage | ||
document issued by a health maintenance organization, that provides | ||
health insurance or health benefits. | ||
(3) "Health benefit plan issuer" means an entity | ||
authorized under this code or another insurance law of this state | ||
that provides health insurance or health benefits through a health | ||
benefit plan in this state. | ||
(4) "Pharmacist service" means the provision of a | ||
product or good, patient care, or other clinical, professional, or | ||
administrative services in the practice of pharmacy. | ||
(5) "Pharmacy benefit manager" has the meaning | ||
assigned by Section 4151.151. | ||
(6) "Pharmacy benefit network" means a system for the | ||
delivery of pharmacy benefits and pharmacist services established | ||
by contract between a pharmacy benefit manager and a pharmacist or | ||
pharmacy. | ||
(7) "Rebate" means a discount or other concession, | ||
including an incentive, related to dispensing a prescription drug | ||
that is paid by a manufacturer or third party, directly or | ||
indirectly, to a pharmacy benefit manager. | ||
Sec. 1369.502. CONTRACT REQUIREMENTS; CONTRACT ACCESS. (a) | ||
A pharmacy benefit manager may not sell, lease, or otherwise | ||
transfer information regarding the payment or reimbursement terms | ||
of a pharmacy benefit network contract without the express | ||
authority of and prior adequate notification to the pharmacists or | ||
pharmacies in the pharmacy benefit network. The prior adequate | ||
notification must be provided in the written format specified by | ||
the pharmacy benefit network contract. | ||
(b) A pharmacy benefit manager may not provide a person | ||
access to pharmacy services or contractual discounts under a | ||
pharmacy benefit network contract unless the contract | ||
specifically: | ||
(1) allows the pharmacy benefit manager to provide to | ||
the person access to the pharmacy benefit manager's rights and | ||
responsibilities under the pharmacy benefit network contract; and | ||
(2) makes the person's access contingent on the person | ||
complying with all applicable terms, limitations, and conditions of | ||
the pharmacy benefit network contract. | ||
(c) A pharmacy benefit network contract must require that, | ||
on the request of a pharmacist or pharmacy, the pharmacy benefit | ||
manager will timely provide information necessary for the | ||
pharmacist or pharmacy to determine whether a person is authorized | ||
to access the pharmacist's or pharmacy's services and contractual | ||
discounts. | ||
(d) A pharmacy benefit network contract must specify or | ||
reference a separate fee schedule. The fee schedule may be | ||
provided by any reasonable method, including electronically. The | ||
fee schedule may describe: | ||
(1) specific services or procedures that the | ||
pharmacist or pharmacy may deliver and the amount of the | ||
corresponding payment; | ||
(2) a methodology for calculating the amount of the | ||
payment based on a published fee schedule; or | ||
(3) any other reasonable manner that provides an | ||
ascertainable amount for payment for services. | ||
(e) For the purposes of this section, a pharmacy benefit | ||
manager shall permit a pharmacist or pharmacy participating in a | ||
pharmacy benefit network reasonable access, including electronic | ||
access, during business hours to review the pharmacy benefit | ||
network contract. The information obtained during the review may | ||
be used or disclosed only for the purposes of complying with the | ||
terms of the contract, this subchapter, or other state or federal | ||
law. | ||
Sec. 1369.503. FIDUCIARY DUTIES. (a) A pharmacy benefit | ||
manager of a health benefit plan issuer is a fiduciary of the health | ||
benefit plan issuer. | ||
(b) The pharmacy benefit manager shall: | ||
(1) act in accordance with the standards of conduct | ||
applicable to a fiduciary in an enterprise of like character and | ||
with like aims; | ||
(2) perform its duties with care, skill, prudence, and | ||
diligence; and | ||
(3) comply with the fiduciary requirements of this | ||
section. | ||
(c) The pharmacy benefit manager shall notify the health | ||
benefit plan issuer in writing of any activity, policy, or practice | ||
of the pharmacy benefit manager that directly or indirectly | ||
presents a conflict of interest between the pharmacy benefit | ||
manager and the health benefit plan issuer. | ||
(d) The pharmacy benefit manager shall provide to a health | ||
benefit plan issuer all financial and utilization information | ||
requested by the health benefit plan issuer relating to the | ||
provision of benefits to the relevant enrollees and any financial | ||
and utilization information relating to the pharmacy benefit | ||
manager's services to the health benefit plan issuer. | ||
(e) If a pharmacy benefit manager substitutes a more | ||
expensive drug for a prescribed drug, the pharmacy benefit manager | ||
shall disclose to the health benefit plan issuer the cost of the | ||
prescribed drug and the substitute drug and the amount of any rebate | ||
the pharmacy benefit manager may receive, directly or indirectly, | ||
as a result of the substitution. | ||
(f) A pharmacy benefit manager shall transfer to the health | ||
benefit plan issuer the entire amount of any rebate that the | ||
pharmacy benefit manager receives, directly or indirectly, for any | ||
reason, including as the result of: | ||
(1) a substitution described by Subsection (e); | ||
(2) a substitution by the pharmacy benefit manager of | ||
a lower-priced generic and therapeutically equivalent drug for a | ||
higher-priced prescribed drug; or | ||
(3) volume of sales of a drug or a class or brand of | ||
drug. | ||
(g) A pharmacy benefit manager shall disclose to a health | ||
benefit plan issuer all financial terms and arrangements for | ||
remuneration of any kind, including rebates, that the pharmacy | ||
benefit manager has with each drug manufacturer or relabeler, as | ||
defined by 21 C.F.R. Section 207.1, including formulary management | ||
and drug-switch programs, educational support, claims processing | ||
and pharmacy network fees that are charged from pharmacists and | ||
pharmacies, and data sales fees. | ||
Sec. 1369.504. PHARMACY BENEFIT NETWORK STANDARDS. (a) The | ||
commissioner shall by rule adopt pharmacy benefit network adequacy | ||
standards that: | ||
(1) are adapted to local markets in which a pharmacy | ||
benefit manager operates; | ||
(2) ensure availability of, and accessibility to, a | ||
full range of contracted pharmacists and pharmacies to provide | ||
pharmacy services to enrollees; and | ||
(3) on good cause shown, may allow departure from | ||
local market network adequacy standards if the commissioner posts | ||
on the department's Internet website the name of the pharmacy | ||
benefit manager, the health benefit plan issuer, and the affected | ||
local market. | ||
(b) The commissioner may not consider mail-order pharmacies | ||
in the determination of the pharmacy benefit network adequacy | ||
standards adopted by rule under Subsection (a). | ||
Sec. 1369.505. ANY WILLING PROVIDER. (a) A pharmacy | ||
benefit manager may not exclude a pharmacist or pharmacy from | ||
participation in a pharmacy benefit network if the pharmacist or | ||
pharmacy: | ||
(1) accepts the terms, conditions, and reimbursement | ||
rates of the pharmacy benefit manager; | ||
(2) meets all applicable federal and state licensure | ||
and permit requirements; and | ||
(3) has not been terminated for cause as a provider in | ||
any federal or state program. | ||
(b) Except as required by the commissioner in coordination | ||
with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, a pharmacy benefit manager | ||
may not require, as a condition of participating in a pharmacy | ||
benefit network, that a pharmacist or pharmacy obtain: | ||
(1) accreditation, credentialing, or certification | ||
inconsistent with, more stringent than, or in addition to the | ||
requirements imposed by the Texas State Board of Pharmacy or state | ||
or federal law; or | ||
(2) a performance or surety bond or other financial | ||
guarantee in excess of the requirements imposed by the Texas State | ||
Board of Pharmacy or state or federal law. | ||
Sec. 1369.506. PROTECTED COMMUNICATION AND OTHER PRACTICES | ||
BY PHARMACISTS AND PHARMACIES. (a) In a participation contract | ||
between a pharmacy benefit manager and a pharmacist or pharmacy | ||
providing prescription drug coverage for a health benefit plan, a | ||
pharmacist or pharmacy may not be prohibited or restricted from or | ||
penalized in any way for disclosing to an enrollee any health care | ||
information that the pharmacist or pharmacy considers appropriate | ||
regarding: | ||
(1) the nature of treatment, risks, or alternative | ||
therapies; | ||
(2) the availability of alternate therapies, | ||
consultations, or tests; | ||
(3) the decision of utilization reviewers or similar | ||
persons to authorize or deny services; | ||
(4) the process used to authorize or deny health care | ||
services or benefits; or | ||
(5) financial incentives and structures used by the | ||
relevant health benefit plan. | ||
(b) A pharmacist or pharmacy may provide to an enrollee | ||
information regarding the enrollee's total cost for a pharmacist | ||
service for a prescription drug. | ||
(c) A pharmacy benefit manager may not prohibit a pharmacist | ||
or pharmacy from: | ||
(1) discussing information regarding the total cost | ||
for a pharmacist service for a prescription drug; or | ||
(2) selling a more affordable alternative to the | ||
enrollee if a more affordable alternative is available. | ||
(d) A pharmacy benefit manager contract with a | ||
participating pharmacist or pharmacy may not prohibit, restrict, or | ||
limit disclosure of information to the commissioner, law | ||
enforcement, or state or federal governmental officials | ||
investigating or examining a complaint or conducting a review of a | ||
pharmacy benefit manager's compliance with the requirements of this | ||
subchapter. | ||
Sec. 1369.507. RECOUPMENT LIMITATION. (a) A reimbursement | ||
made to a pharmacist or pharmacy by a pharmacy benefit manager may | ||
not be denied or reduced after adjudication of the claim, unless: | ||
(1) the original claim was submitted fraudulently; | ||
(2) the original claim payment was incorrect because | ||
the pharmacist or pharmacy had already been paid for the pharmacist | ||
service; or | ||
(3) the pharmacist service was not properly rendered | ||
by the pharmacist or pharmacy. | ||
(b) A pharmacy benefit manager entitled to a recoupment on | ||
the basis of a discrepancy found during an audit related to a drug | ||
that was properly dispensed may only recover fees paid by the | ||
pharmacy benefit manager to the pharmacist or pharmacy associated | ||
with the audited claim and may not recoup the cost of the drug or | ||
other ingredient or any other amount related to the claim. | ||
SECTION 6. The heading to Subchapter D, Chapter 4151, | ||
Insurance Code, is amended to read as follows: | ||
SUBCHAPTER D. PHARMACY BENEFITS [ |
||
SECTION 7. Subchapter D, Chapter 4151, Insurance Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 4151.155 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 4151.155. BOARD OF PHARMACY REQUESTS. The | ||
commissioner shall provide to the Texas State Board of Pharmacy, on | ||
the board's request, a copy of any document related to an action | ||
taken under Subchapter G against a pharmacy benefit manager, | ||
including: | ||
(1) a document or information or data submitted by a | ||
pharmacy benefit manager to the commissioner; | ||
(2) correspondence between the pharmacy benefit | ||
manager and the commissioner; and | ||
(3) a written notice, finding, or determination, or | ||
other document sent by the commissioner to the pharmacy benefit | ||
manager. | ||
SECTION 8. Section 1369.357, Insurance Code, is repealed. | ||
SECTION 9. Chapter 1369, Insurance Code, as amended by this | ||
Act, applies only to a contract between a pharmacy benefit manager | ||
and a pharmacist or pharmacy entered into or renewed on or after | ||
January 1, 2020. A contract entered into or renewed before January | ||
1, 2020, is governed by the law as it existed immediately before the | ||
effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect for | ||
that purpose. | ||
SECTION 10. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |