Insurance reimbursement for services performed by a pharmacist within scope of practice; clarify provider rate.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide additional details beyond what was already included in the candidate explanation.

Insurance Reimbursement for Pharmacist Services

This bill would require insurance companies to reimburse pharmacists at the same rate as other non-physician healthcare providers for services within their legal scope of practice.

What This Bill Does

• Creates a new law that requires insurers and third-party administrators to pay pharmacists the same rates they pay other non-doctor health care workers for certain services.
• Specifies that these services must be part of what pharmacists are legally allowed to do in Mississippi, as defined by Section 73-21-73.
• Ensures that if a service would normally be covered by insurance when provided by another healthcare provider, it should also be covered when provided by a pharmacist.

Who It Names or Affects

• Insurance companies and third-party administrators
• Pharmacists who provide services within their legal scope of practice

Terms To Know

Scope of Practice

The specific tasks and responsibilities that a healthcare professional is legally allowed to perform.

Nonphysician Health Care Provider

A health care worker who is not a doctor, such as a pharmacist or nurse practitioner.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill did not pass and was not signed into law.
• It would have taken effect on July 1, 2026, but since it did not pass, this date is no longer relevant.

Official Summary Text

Insurance reimbursement for services performed by a pharmacist within scope of practice; clarify provider rate.

Current Bill Text

S. B. No. 2356 *SS08/R753* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
26/SS08/R753
PAGE 1 (rdd\kr)

To: Insurance
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026

By: Senator(s) Rhodes

SENATE BILL NO. 2356

AN ACT TO CODIFY NEW SECTION 83-41-218, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1
1972, TO PROVIDE THE RIGHT OF INSURED OR OTHER BENEFICIARIES TO BE 2
REIMBURSED FOR SERVICES PERFORMED BY PHARMACISTS WITHIN THE LAWFUL 3
SCOPE OF THEIR PRACTICE AT A RATE NOT LESS THAN THAT PROVIDED TO 4
ANY OTHER NONPHYSICIAN HEALTH CARE PROVIDER; AND FOR RELATED 5
PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. The following shall be codified as Section 8
83-41-218, Mississippi Code of 1972: 9
83-41-218. For a policy of insurance or any medical service 10
plan or hospital service contract or hospital and medical service 11
contract issued in this state, an insurer or third-party 12
administrator for an insurer must provide reimbursement to a 13
pharmacist for a service or procedure at a rate not less than that 14
provided to any other nonphysician health care provider if the 15
service or procedure is all of the following: 16
(a) Within the scope of practice of a pharmacist, as 17
defined in Section 73-21-73; and 18
S. B. No. 2356 *SS08/R753* ~ OFFICIAL ~
26/SS08/R753
PAGE 2 (rdd\kr)
ST: Insurance reimbursement for services
performed by a pharmacist within scope of
practice; clarify provider rate.
(b) Would otherwise be covered under the policy, plan 19
or contract if the service or procedure is provided by any health 20
care service provider or other person. 21
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 22
and after July 1, 2026. 23