03/17/2026
🚨 Louisiana Patients: Here’s What You Need to Know About House Bill 919
You may hear claims this week from BILLION-dollar PBMs and insurance companies that House Bill 919 will raise prescription costs. This is not true if this bill is followed through as written.
HB919 simply says pharmacies should be paid at least what it costs to fill a prescription.
Right now, PBMs often reimburse pharmacies LESS than the cost of the medication and the work required to safely dispense it.
That means local pharmacies are sometimes losing money just by filling prescriptions.
HB919 would require PBMs to pay at least:
• The national average drug cost (NADAC)
• PLUS a professional dispensing fee
• With a $12 minimum
For comparison: Louisiana Medicaid already pays $11.81 per prescription based on a survey of cost to dispense throughout the state.
The bill also clearly states that PBMs CANNOT pass these costs on to patients or insurance plans.
In other states with similar reforms, insurance rates were actually REDUCED after improving prescription drug transparency.
This bill is about FAIRNESS and protecting patient access to local pharmacies.
Because when community pharmacies disappear, patients lose:
• personal care
• medication access
• local healthcare support
HB919 will be heard Wednesday at 9:00 AM.
If you believe patients deserve affordable prescriptions AND local pharmacies, now is the time to speak up. Please see the attached list of committee members who will be hearing this issue Wednesday morning and let them know to SUPPORT and VOTE FAVORABLY for HB919.
💙 Your local pharmacies are fighting to stay open and continue serving Louisiana communities.