# Rhode Island H8582: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PHARMACY FREEDOM OF CHOICE--FAIR COMPETITION AND PRACTICES . Rhode Island H8582, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PHARMACY FREEDOM OF CHOICE--FAIR COMPETITION AND PRACTICES ., is a 2026 Regular Session House bill sponsored by Justine A. Caldwell (Democratic); status signed, last action 2026-06-22 (Signed by Governor — Chapter 368); PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-01). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8582-2026 - As of: 2026-11-01 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Bill: Rhode Island H8582 - State: Rhode Island - Session: 2026 Regular Session - Title: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PHARMACY FREEDOM OF CHOICE--FAIR COMPETITION AND PRACTICES . - Status: signed - Chamber: House - Introduced: 2026-05-26 - Last action: 2026-06-22, Signed by Governor — Chapter 368 - Sponsor: Justine A. Caldwell (Democratic) - Cosponsors: 1 - Touches household money: yes - Roll calls: 2 (108 yes, 0 no in all) - Economic provisions PRIA read: 5 ## Summary No summary available. ## Bill overview: provisions PRIA read - Insurers must ensure pharmacy access: benefit, medium. Beginning January 1, 2027, insurers must show the state they have enough pharmacies, staff, and facilities to serve members. They must ensure reasonable access and continuity of pharmacy service for people covered in Rhode Island. - Lower copays and open price talks: benefit, medium. Beginning January 1, 2027, your copay at the pharmacy cannot be more than what the pharmacy charges. If you pay a copay, the pharmacy keeps the adjudicated amount, and the PBM cannot take it back. Pharmacists are free to tell you the cash price, their reimbursement, and cheaper, equivalent options.… - Stronger PBM transparency and duties: benefit, medium. From January 1, 2027, PBMs must hold all drug‑benefit funds in trust, including spread pricing, and act in good faith to covered people. From August 1, 2027, PBMs must disclose rebates, fees, contracts, dispensing fees, and conflicts to insurers. Insurers keep PBM trade secrets confidential; the st… - Faster fixes to generic prices: benefit, low. Starting January 1, 2027, PBMs must keep a clear appeal process for generic drug prices. Pharmacies have 15 days to appeal and get an email receipt. PBMs must answer in 15 days. If the appeal is valid, prices are fixed back to the original claim, and pharmacies reverse and rebill. The PBM must upda… - Stronger oversight and shared enforcement costs: mixed, medium. Starting January 1, 2027, Rhode Island regulates PBMs under chapter 84, and the health insurance commissioner issues rules to enforce it. PBMs and insurers under investigation must split enforcement costs equally. Covered costs include 150% of staff salaries and benefits, plus technology, training,… ## Sponsors and cosponsors - Sponsor: Justine A. Caldwell (Democratic), House - Cosponsor: Joseph J. Solomon, Jr. (Democratic), House ## Roll call votes | Date | Chamber | Motion | Result | Yes | No | Other | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2026-06-11 | Senate | RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PHARMACY FREEDOM OF CHOICE In Concurrence | pass | 38 | 0 | | | 2026-06-10 | House | INS./PHARMACY FREEDOM OF CHOICE PASSAGE | pass | 70 | 0 | | ## Actions (12) - 2026-06-22: Signed by Governor — Chapter 368 (Governor) - 2026-06-18: Transmitted to Governor (Governor) - 2026-06-11: Senate passed Sub A in concurrence (Senate) - 2026-06-10: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/11/2026) (Senate) - 2026-06-10: House passed Sub A (House) - 2026-06-09: Placed on House Calendar (06/10/2026) (House) - 2026-06-04: Committee recommends passage of Sub A - 2026-06-02: Proposed Substitute - 2026-06-02: Scheduled for consideration (06/04/2026) - 2026-05-28: Committee recommended measure be held for further study - 2026-05-26: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (05/28/2026) - 2026-05-26: Introduced, referred to House Health & Human Services (House) ## Bill text - H8582 - As Introduced, 2026-05-26: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8582.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8582.pdf) - H8582 - Substitute, 2026-05-26: [HTML](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8582A.htm), [PDF](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8582A.pdf) ## Related bills - H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS . (became law) - H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT . (became law) - H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY . (became law) - H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES . (became law) - H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN . (became law) - H8437: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION . (became law) ## Sources - [H8582 - As Introduced (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8582.htm) - [H8582 - As Introduced (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8582.pdf) - [H8582 - Substitute (HTML)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8582A.htm) - [H8582 - Substitute (PDF)](https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/BillText26/HouseText26/H8582A.pdf) ## Related - [H8605: JOINT RESOLUTION MAKING AN APPROPRIATION TO PAY CERTAIN CLAIMS .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8605-2026) - [H8580: AN ACT RELATING TO THE NORTH TIVERTON FIRE DISTRICT .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8580-2026) - [H8586: AN ACT RELATING TO HIGHWAYS -- RHODE ISLAND TURNPIKE AND BRIDGE AUTHORITY .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8586-2026) - [H8525: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- LEVY AND ASSESSMENT OF LOCAL TAXES .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8525-2026) - [H8506: AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- RELATING TO CENTRAL FALLS PENSION PLAN .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8506-2026) - [H8437: AN ACT RELATING TO TAXATION -- PROPERTY SUBJECT TO TAXATION .](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8437-2026) - [Rhode Island bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island/bills) - [Rhode Island state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/rhode-island) - [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/RI-H8582-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).