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HD 4409

An Act ensuring pharmacy access

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Colleen Garry

HD 4409 ensures pharmacies can join preferred provider networks on the same terms as other providers, provided they register and accept contract terms.

Reported, referred to the committee on Joint Rules, reported, rules suspended and referred to the committee on Financial Services
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Bill Summary · HD 4409

Summary: An Act ensuring pharmacy access (HD 4409)

Overview

  • Bill: HD 4409, “An Act ensuring pharmacy access”
  • Introduced: March 27, 2025
  • Primary sponsor: Rep. Colleen M. Garry (Dracut)
  • Status timeline:
    • Initially referred to the House Rules Committee (3/27/2025)
    • Later reported, with rules suspended and referred to the Financial Services Committee (5/29/2025)
  • Context: Aimed at ensuring pharmacies and pharmacists can participate in preferred provider networks on the same terms as other providers, addressing access and participation in contracting arrangements.

What the bill does (Key Provisions)

  • Add to Chapter 176I of the General Laws (end of Section 4):
    • “No pharmacy or pharmacist shall be denied the right to participate as a preferred provider under the same terms and conditions currently applicable to all other preferred or contracting providers provided the pharmacy or pharmacist is registered and accepts the terms and conditions of the contract.”
  • Practical effect:
    • Establishes a nondiscrimination guarantee for pharmacies/pharmacists seeking to join preferred provider networks.
    • Requires compliance with the same contractual terms and conditions as other preferred providers, contingent on registration and acceptance of the contract terms.

Who would be affected

  • Affected parties:
    • Pharmacies and pharmacists seeking to participate in preferred provider networks (e.g., insurer contracting, pharmacy benefit managers).
    • Health insurers and organizations operating preferred provider contracts (they would need to apply existing terms uniformly to pharmacies that are registered and accept contracts).
    • Patients who rely on network access may benefit from expanded pharmacy participation.
  • Conditions:
    • Participation remains subject to registration and acceptance of contract terms; discrimination is prohibited outside those baseline requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Filed: February 12, 2025 (House Docket No. 4409)
  • Introduced: March 27, 2025
  • Committee actions:
    • Referred to House Rules (3/27/2025)
    • Reported and referred to Joint Rules; rules suspended and referred to Financial Services (5/29/2025)
  • Related bills: Similar matter previously filed in 2023-2024 (House No. 1019)

Context and potential impact

  • Rationale: Addresses access barriers by ensuring pharmacies are not unfairly barred from preferred provider networks, promoting parity with other contracted providers.
  • Potential impact:
    • Positive: Greater pharmacy participation in networks, potentially improving patient access and network adequacy.
    • Administrative: Insurers may need to adjust processes to apply existing terms uniformly to pharmacies that meet registration and contract acceptance.
  • Limitations: The text focuses on participation rights and does not specify reimbursement rates, contract terms beyond parity, or enforcement mechanisms beyond the nondiscrimination guarantee.

This summary captures the core purpose, provisions, and potential effects of HD 4409 as introduced in 2025.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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