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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to pharmacy networks for health benefit plans for certain |
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governmental employees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter E, Chapter 1551, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1551.226 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1551.226. NETWORK PHARMACY PROVIDERS. (a) To achieve |
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cost savings and economies of scale, prescription drugs provided |
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under the group benefits program shall be provided, to the extent |
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practicable, by a limited number of pharmacy providers that have |
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contracted to provide the drugs through a pharmacy network. |
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(b) The board of trustees may identify regions of the state |
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that have an insufficient number of pharmacy providers |
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participating in the pharmacy network and may provide that, in an |
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identified region, prescription drug benefits may be provided |
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through a pharmacy network established for that region. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter D, Chapter 1575, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1575.172 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1575.172. NETWORK PHARMACY PROVIDERS. (a) To achieve |
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cost savings and economies of scale, prescription drugs provided |
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under the group program shall be provided, to the extent |
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practicable, by a limited number of pharmacy providers that have |
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contracted to provide the drugs through a pharmacy network. |
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(b) The trustee may identify regions of the state that have |
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an insufficient number of pharmacy providers participating in the |
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pharmacy network and may provide that, in an identified region, |
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prescription drug benefits may be provided through a pharmacy |
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network established for that region. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter C, Chapter 1579, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1579.109 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1579.109. NETWORK PHARMACY PROVIDERS. (a) To achieve |
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cost savings and economies of scale, prescription drugs provided |
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under the program shall be provided, to the extent practicable, by a |
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limited number of pharmacy providers that have contracted to |
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provide the drugs through a pharmacy network. |
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(b) The trustee may identify regions of the state that have |
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an insufficient number of pharmacy providers participating in the |
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pharmacy network and may provide that, in an identified region, |
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prescription drug benefits may be provided through a pharmacy |
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network established for that region. |
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SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 1601, Insurance Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 1601.112 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1601.112. NETWORK PHARMACY PROVIDERS. (a) To achieve |
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cost savings and economies of scale, prescription drugs provided |
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under a uniform program shall be provided, to the extent |
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practicable, by a limited number of pharmacy providers that have |
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contracted to provide the drugs through a pharmacy network. |
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(b) A system may identify a region served by a uniform |
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program that has an insufficient number of pharmacy providers |
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participating in the pharmacy network and may provide that, in the |
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identified region, prescription drug benefits may be provided |
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through a pharmacy network established for that region. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |