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Bill

HB 3233

Relating to patient data maintained by pharmacy benefit managers.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Cody Harris and 1 co-sponsor

HB 3233 restricts Texas pharmacy benefit managers' use of patient prescription data and requires enhanced privacy protections, effective September 1, 2025.

Effective on 9/1/25
#electronicinformationsystems(i0311) #healthcareproviders(i0387) #health--privacy/useofinformation(i0389) #insurance--health&accident(i0422) #patientrights&protection(s0596) #pharmacybenefitmanagers(s0648)
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Bill Summary · HB 3233

Legislative bill overview

HB 3233 establishes new requirements for how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) handle and maintain patient prescription data in Texas. The bill restricts PBMs' ability to use patient data for purposes beyond direct pharmacy benefit management and requires greater transparency and security measures around this sensitive health information.

Why is this important

PBMs process prescription information for millions of Texans through insurance plans, giving them access to highly sensitive health data. Without clear restrictions, this data could be sold, shared with third parties, or used for purposes unrelated to patient care—raising privacy concerns and potentially affecting patient autonomy and treatment decisions. The law creates enforceable standards to protect patient privacy while allowing legitimate pharmacy operations.

Potential points of contention

  • Industry compliance costs: PBMs may argue the new data handling requirements impose significant administrative and technology infrastructure expenses that could be passed to consumers or insurers
  • Data utility vs. privacy: Restrictions on data use could limit PBMs' ability to conduct legitimate pharmacy research, prevent drug fraud, or identify medication safety patterns that benefit public health
  • Enforcement mechanisms: The bill's effectiveness depends on how Texas regulators monitor compliance and whether penalties are substantial enough to deter violations by large national PBM corporations

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

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