§ 58-56B-15.  (Effective October 1, 2026) Contract requirements.

(a) Negotiated Terms. - A PSAO-pharmacy contract shall include a requirement that the PSAO provide to the pharmacy a copy of any contract, amendment, payment schedule, or reimbursement rate within 10 calendar days after the execution of, or amendment to, a contract that the PSAO has signed on behalf of the independent pharmacy.

(b) Updates to Required Disclosures. - A contract between a PSAO and an independent pharmacy, PBM, or third-party payer shall include the requirement that the PSAO update disclosures in accordance with G.S. 58-56B-10(d).

(c) Prohibition on Certain Purchase Requirements. - A PSAO shall not require a pharmacy to purchase specific amounts of prescription drugs, whether generic or brand name, in order to access discounts.

(d) Audits. - If a PSAO-pharmacy contract grants a PBM the right or obligation to conduct audits of an independent pharmacy, then that PSAO-pharmacy contract is required to contain language that permits the PBM to obtain information from the PSAO in connection with the PBM's audit of that independent pharmacy.

(e) Timely Transmission of Remittance. - A PSAO-pharmacy contract shall provide that all remittances for claims submitted to the PSAO by a PBM or third-party payer on behalf of the independent pharmacy shall be passed through by the PSAO to the pharmacy within a reasonable amount of time after receipt of the remittance by the PSAO from a PBM or third-party payer. The reasonable amount of time required under this section shall be established in the PSAO-pharmacy contract.  (2025-69, s. 2.1.)