Adopted

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT NO 1 PROPOSED TO

House Bill No.  557

BY: Committee

     Amend by striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

     SECTION 1.  The following shall be codified as Section 83-41-218, Mississippi Code of 1972:

83-41-218.  Under each policy of insurance or a medical service plan or hospital service contract or hospital and medical service contract issued or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2027, an insurer or third-party administrator for an insurer must provide reimbursement to a pharmacist for a service or procedure at a rate not less than that provided to any other nonphysician health care provider if the service or procedure:

          (a)  Is within the scope of practice of a pharmacist as defined in Section 73-21-73; and

          (b)  Otherwise would be covered under the policy, plan or contract if provided by any health care service provider or other person.

     SECTION 2.  This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2026, and shall stand repealed from and after June 30, 2026.

     Further, amend by striking the title in its entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

     AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 83-41-218, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE HEALTH INSURERS TO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT TO PHARMACISTS FOR SERVICES AND PROCEDURES AT A RATE NOT LESS THAN THAT PROVIDED TO OTHER NONPHYSICIAN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IF THE SERVICE OR PROCEDURE IS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF A PHARMACIST AND OTHERWISE WOULD BE COVERED IF PROVIDED BY ANY HEALTH CARE SERVICE PROVIDER OR OTHER PERSON; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.