The Senate Resolution urges the Louisiana Department of Health to conduct a comprehensive study on the potential impacts of prohibiting pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) from owning pharmacies within the state. This resolution highlights concerns regarding vertical integration in healthcare, where a single entity controls various aspects of the healthcare process, including insurance, pharmacy benefits, and pharmacy operations. Such consolidation is believed to limit competition, reduce choices for patients, and contribute to rising healthcare costs. The resolution calls for a thorough analysis to understand how this prohibition could affect patient access, employer-sponsored health plans, and the overall provision of pharmacy services.

The study mandated by the resolution is to be submitted to the legislature by March 1, 2026, and should include several key components. These include estimates of costs or savings for plan sponsors, the impact on Medicare pharmacy network adequacy, potential employment changes, and the scope of services provided by pharmacies that would be affected by the prohibition. Additionally, the report should assess patient access to specialty medications, implications for TRICARE prescription access, the capacity of non-prohibited pharmacies to accommodate displaced patients, and the potential costs associated with prescription noncompliance for Medicaid. A copy of the resolution will be sent to the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health to ensure the study is initiated.