On July 8, 2025, Gov. Ned Lamont (D) signed HB 7192, An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Bipartisan Drug Task Force. The law enhances the accountability and transparency of PBMs and health carriers and implements recommendations from the Bipartisan Drug Task Force which includes some of NACDS’ PBM policy priorities, including any willing provider. NACDS participated in the task force and submitted testimony when both bills had hearings. 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

The Commission on Pharmacy met on May 28. The agenda included relocation and license requests. The next meeting will be held on June 25. 

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

The legislation that has been proposed by the bi-partisan and bi-cameral Prescription Drug Task Force earlier this year continues to progress. SB 11 has been referred to the Senate Committee on Finance and HB 7192 is currently on the house calendar. HB 7192 aims to enhance the accountability and transparency of PBMs and health carriers, implementing recommendations from the Bipartisan Drug Task Force. NACDS participated in the task force and submitted testimony when both bills had hearings. NACDS will continue to advocate for PBM policy priorities throughout the legislative session.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

On May 12 and 13, the General Assembly procedurally moved SB 11 and HB 7192 through their respective committees. This legislation came out of the bi-cameral, bi-partisan Prescription Drug Taskforce that began last fall. Amongst the provisions, HB 7192 would provide that PBMs owe a fiduciary duty to health carriers; prohibit a PBM to charge a health plan a contracted price that differs from what the PBM pays the pharmacy for the services; expand the contents of the insurance commissioner’s annual report on health carrier rebates to include certain information on how rebates affected cost sharing; and require the insurance commissioner to require carriers to annually report on pricing offered to, and profit generated between, the carrier and any PBM or mail-order pharmacy. NACDS participated in the taskforce and supported both bills during the committee process. NACDS, with the Connecticut Association of Chain Pharmacies, participates with the Connecticut Patients Not PBMs coalition, made up of pharmaceutical companies, patient advocacy groups and pharmacy industry peers. The Connecticut legislative session ends firmly on June 4.  

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

On February 20, 2025, the Joint Committee on Human Services held a hearing on several bills, including H6101, An Act Concerning Medicaid Coverage of Food as Medicine and Expanding Access to the Connecticut Farmers’ Market/Women, Infants and Children Nutrition Program. NACDS testified and submitted testimony in coordination with the Connecticut Chain Pharmacy Council and the Connecticut Food Association.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

The General Assembly formed a bi-partisan and bi-cameral task force to hear proposals for drug cost containment and PBM regulation in advance of the 2025 legislative session.  NACDS participated in the opening meeting on December 4 and will continue to be a presence throughout the working group’s meetings.  NACDS has also met with all four co-chairs of the task force to highlight our policy priorities and states that have taken helpful and thorough action.  The task force will be breaking down their work into four subcommittees: (1) PBM oversight, (2) Importation and Shortages, (3) Pricing and 340B and (4) Patient Protection, Rare Diseases, and Innovation.  These subcommittees will each meet three times.  The task force’s final meeting is scheduled for February 11, 2025.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

On December 4, the legislature started a bipartisan, bicameral Prescription Drug Task Force, dedicated to tackling the rising costs of medications and addressing challenges in prescription drug access and pharmacy care across Connecticut.

Over the coming months, the task force will convene subcommittees to focus on key areas, including:

• Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)
• Drug shortages and importation
• Patient protection, pharmacy practice, rare diseases and innovation
• Drug pricing and 340B programs

NACDS will continue to participate in and monitor this task force and advocate for PBM reform and our policy principles.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

On November 7, the Department of Consumer Protection finalized regulations on the Sale of Non-legend Drugs in Vending Machines.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.

The Department of Consumer Protection updated its website to allow for electronic registration of “pharmacy clerks” as established by legislation passed earlier this year that became effective October 1. This registration is required for any individual who will physically work in an area of a pharmacy or institutional pharmacy where controlled substances or other legend drugs are dispensed by, or under the supervision of, a pharmacist.

For more information, please contact NACDS’ Mike Sargent at 207-272-6435.