The bill proposes amendments to the General Laws to expand health insurance coverage to include services provided by pharmacists within their scope of practice, effective January 1, 2025. It ensures that services delivered by pharmacists under a collaborative agreement are covered if the same services would be covered when performed by a physician, advanced practice nurse, or physician assistant. The bill removes the requirement for pharmacist services to be supervised or referred by another healthcare provider for reimbursement purposes, but it does not allow for payment of duplicative services if they are provided by both a pharmacist and another healthcare provider.

Furthermore, the bill requires health plans to have an adequate number of pharmacists in their networks, distinct from the inclusion of pharmacies in the drug benefit network. It also clarifies that healthcare benefits are only applicable to services within the insurer's provider network unless the required services are not available from network providers. The Department of Human Services is directed to seek necessary amendments or waivers to the state Medicaid plan to comply with this bill by September 1, 2024. The legislation is scheduled to become effective on January 1, 2025.