HB557 • 2026

Health Insurance; require reimbursement to pharmacists for certain services and procedures.

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 83-41-218, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE HEALTH INSURERS TO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT TO PHARMACISTS FOR SERVICES AND PROCEDURES AT A RATE NOT LESS THAN THAT PROVIDED TO OTHER NONPHYSICIAN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IF THE SERVICE OR PROCEDURE IS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF A PHARMACIST AND OTHERWISE WOULD BE COVERED IF PROVIDED BY ANY HEALTH CARE SERVICE PROVIDER OR OTHER PERSON; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Healthcare

Active

The official status still shows this bill as active or still awaiting another formal step.

Sponsor: Yancey, Scott
Last action: 2026-03-30
Official status: Dead
Effective date: July 1, 20

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date mentioned in the candidate explanation is July 1, 2026, but the official bill text specifies January 1, 2027. This discrepancy needs clarification.

Health Insurance Reimbursement for Pharmacists

This bill requires health insurers to provide reimbursement to pharmacists at rates not less than those given to other non-physician healthcare providers for services and procedures within a pharmacist's scope of practice.

What This Bill Does

Requires health insurance policies in Mississippi to cover certain services provided by pharmacists at rates equal to or higher than those given to other non-physician healthcare providers if the service is within the pharmacist’s scope of practice.
Specifies that these services must be part of what pharmacists are allowed to do according to state law.

Who It Names or Affects

Health insurers in Mississippi
Pharmacists who provide services within their scope of practice

Terms To Know

Scope of Practice: The specific tasks and responsibilities that a healthcare professional, like a pharmacist, is legally allowed to perform.

Limits and Unknowns

This bill did not pass during the last session and needs further action.
It specifies that the law will take effect on July 1, 2026, but this date may change if the bill passes in a future session.

Bill History

2026-03-30 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/30 (H) Died In Conference
2026-03-26 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/26 (S) Conferees Named Michel,Rhodes,Hopson
2026-03-23 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/23 (H) Conferees Named Turner,Arnold,Waldo
2026-03-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/16 (H) Decline to Concur/Invite Conf
2026-03-12 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/12 (S) Returned For Concurrence
2026-03-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/11 (S) Passed As Amended
2026-03-11 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/11 (S) Amended
2026-03-03 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
03/03 (S) Title Suff Do Pass As Amended
2026-02-16 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/16 (S) Referred To Insurance
2026-02-06 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/06 (H) Transmitted To Senate
2026-02-05 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
02/05 (H) Passed
2026-01-28 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/28 (H) Title Suff Do Pass
2026-01-28 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/28 (H) DR - TSDP: DP To IN
2026-01-22 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/22 (H) DR - TSDP: IN To DP
2026-01-13 Mississippi Legislative Bill Status System
01/13 (H) Referred To Insurance;Drug Policy

Official Summary Text

Health Insurance; require reimbursement to pharmacists for certain services and procedures.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

H. B. No. 557 *HR43/R1520* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/HR43/R1520
PAGE 1 (RKM\KP)

To: Insurance; Drug Policy
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Representatives Yancey, Scott

HOUSE BILL NO. 557

AN ACT TO CREATE NEW SECTION 83-41-218, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1
1972, TO REQUIRE HEALTH INSURERS TO PROVIDE REIMBURSEMENT TO 2
PHARMACISTS FOR SERVICES AND PROCEDURES AT A RATE NOT LESS THAN 3
THAT PROVIDED TO OTHER NONPHYSICIAN HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IF THE 4
SERVICE OR PROCEDURE IS WITHIN THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE OF A 5
PHARMACIST AND OTHERWISE WOULD BE COVERED IF PROVIDED BY ANY 6
HEALTH CARE SERVICE PROVIDER OR OTHER PERSON; AND FOR RELATED 7
PURPOSES. 8
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 9
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 10
83-41-218, Mississippi Code of 1972: 11
83-41-218. Under each policy of insurance or a medical 12
service plan or hospital service contract or hospital and medical 13
service contract issued or renewed in this state on or after 14
January 1, 2027, an insurer or third-party administrator for an 15
insurer must provide reimbursement to a pharmacist for a service 16
or procedure at a rate not less than that provided to any other 17
nonphysician health care provider if the service or procedure: 18
(a) Is within the scope of practice of a pharmacist as 19
defined in Section 73-21-73; and 20
H. B. No. 557 *HR43/R1520* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/HR43/R1520
PAGE 2 (RKM\KP)
ST: Health Insurance; require reimbursement to
pharmacists for certain services and procedures.
(b) Otherwise would be covered under the policy, plan 21
or contract if provided by any health care service provider or 22
other person. 23
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 24
and after July 1, 2026. 25