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SB 1627

Relating to patient data maintained by pharmacy benefit managers.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by Lois Kolkhorst

SB 1627 establishes patient data handling standards for Texas pharmacy benefit managers, affecting healthcare privacy and prescription drug management practices.

Referred to Health & Human Services
#electronicinformationsystems(i0311) #healthcareproviders(i0387) #health--privacy/useofinformation(i0389) #insurance--health&accident(i0422) #patientrights&protection(s0596) #pharmacybenefitmanagers(s0648)
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Bill Summary · SB 1627

Legislative bill overview

SB 1627 addresses how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) handle and maintain patient data. The bill, introduced by Senator Lois Kolkhorst, appears designed to establish standards or restrictions around PBM data practices in Texas. As of March 2025, the bill has recently been referred to the Health & Human Services Committee for review.

Why is this important

PBMs control prescription drug access and pricing for millions of Texans, making their data practices a significant healthcare policy issue. Patient data maintained by PBMs includes sensitive prescription histories, medical conditions, and personal health information that could affect insurance coverage, drug pricing, and privacy. Establishing clear rules around this data could impact healthcare transparency, consumer privacy protections, and PBM operational practices across the state.

Potential points of contention

  • PBM operational concerns: PBMs may argue that strict data restrictions could limit their ability to perform core functions like drug utilization review and cost management
  • Patient privacy vs. data utility: Balancing stronger privacy protections against the business need for data analytics and drug safety monitoring
  • Implementation costs: Requirements for data handling infrastructure and compliance could increase operational expenses passed to insurers or patients

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

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