North Dakota House approves PBM regulation, medical price-transparency and other bills; several education and health measures pass

The North Dakota House on the floor approved a package of bills Wednesday that included licensing and enforcement for pharmacy benefit managers (HB 15‑84), a state medical price‑transparency measure (HB 15‑94), and a move toward annual legislative sessions (HB 14‑08), among other measures. Several education, health and budget-related bills also passed; one education curriculum bill failed final passage.

Why it matters: the measures change oversight and disclosure rules for large health‑care intermediaries and hospitals, add state enforcement tools for price‑transparency requirements, alter how the Legislature will meet beginning in 2027, and address a range of education and public‑health topics that affect state agencies, providers and schools.

House Bill 15‑84 (pharmacy benefit managers): The chamber passed HB 15‑84 unanimously. Representative Casper, sponsor, described the bill as “an historic moment for North Dakota, our citizens and the pharmacy profession,” and outlined licensing, subpoena and penalty authorities for the insurance commissioner to regulate PBMs. The bill removes language that could implicitly reference ERISA plans to limit federal preemption risk, adds oversight of rebate aggregators and contract practices, and creates civil and administrative penalties for violations. Final recorded vote: 98 yeas, 0 nays. (Representative Casper; Industry, Business and Labor Committee discussion recorded.)

House Bill 15‑94 (medical cost transparency): The House passed HB 15‑94, aligning state requirements with federal hospital price‑transparency rules and giving the insurance commissioner enforcement authority and penalty tools. Representative Feigwey, speaking for the Human Services Committee, said the federal CMS requirements already require hospitals to disclose standard charges and negotiated rates and…