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Bill

SB 493

Relating to protection of certain disclosures and communications by pharmacists and pharmacies regarding prescription drug benefits.

89th Legislature (2025) Introduced by César Blanco and 4 co-sponsors

SB 493 shields Texas pharmacists from lawsuits for disclosing prescription drug benefits, formulary restrictions, and cost-sharing information to patients.

Effective on 9/1/25
#insurance--health&accident(i0422) #medicine&prescriptiondrugs(s7338) #occupationalregulation--healthoccupations(i0540) #pharmacies&pharmacists(s1192) #pharmacybenefitmanagers(s0648)
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Bill Summary · SB 493

Legislative bill overview

SB 493 protects pharmacists and pharmacies from legal liability when they disclose information to patients about prescription drug benefits, formulary restrictions, or cost-sharing details. The bill shields these communications from being used as evidence in certain legal proceedings and creates safe harbor protections for pharmacists providing benefit-related guidance to customers.

Why is this important

Pharmacists often encounter situations where they must inform patients about insurance coverage limitations, prior authorization requirements, or cheaper alternative medications—information that could theoretically be used against them in litigation. This bill aims to ensure pharmacists can freely communicate benefit information without fear of legal consequences, potentially improving patient access to transparent pricing and coverage details.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of protection: The breadth of "certain disclosures" may be unclear, potentially creating litigation over which communications are actually protected versus which remain exposed to legal action
  • Patient advocacy vs. liability concerns: Patient advocates may worry the protections could discourage pharmacists from aggressively challenging insurance denials, while healthcare providers may see it as necessary protection for routine counseling
  • Insurance company dynamics: Health insurers might view broad pharmacist protections as limiting their control over formulary messaging, though proponents argue it enables better patient communication

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

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