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HB 7814

AN ACT RELATING TO FOOD AND DRUGS -- PRESCRIPTION BENEFIT MANAGER ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Charlene Lima

Rhode Island bill regulating PBM practices to increase drug pricing transparency and limit practices that restrict patient medication access and inflate costs.

02/26/2026 Introduced, referred to House Health & Human Services
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Bill Summary · HB 7814

Legislative bill overview

HB 7814 establishes accountability measures for Prescription Benefit Managers (PBMs) operating in Rhode Island. The bill aims to regulate PBM practices related to drug formularies, pricing transparency, and claims processing to protect consumers and ensure fair access to medications.

Why is this important

PBMs act as intermediaries between insurers, pharmacies, and patients, controlling which drugs are covered and at what cost. Without oversight, PBMs can engage in practices that inflate drug prices, limit patient access to effective medications, or create conflicts of interest—directly affecting healthcare affordability and medication availability for Rhode Island residents.

Potential points of contention

  • Industry opposition: PBMs and their parent companies may argue that strict regulations increase administrative costs, which could be passed to consumers through higher premiums
  • Definition scope: Disagreement over which PBM practices are "accountable" versus legitimate business operations (e.g., tiered formularies, generic substitution requirements)
  • Enforcement mechanisms: Questions about whether Rhode Island has adequate regulatory capacity to monitor compliance and whether penalties are sufficient to change industry behavior

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

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