SECTION 1. Chapter 12C of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding, after Section 10, the following new section:-

Section 10B. Pharmacy Cost Sharing Requirements.

(a) A provider organization may not prohibit a pharmacist or pharmacy from providing a purchaser information regarding the amount of the purchaser’s cost share for a prescription drug and the clinical efficacy of a lower-priced alternative drug, if one is available. Neither a pharmacy nor a pharmacist shall be penalized by a pharmacy’s provider organization for discussing any information described in this section or for selling a lower-priced drug to the insured if one is available.

(b) A pharmacy or pharmacist shall provide the purchaser with any relevant information pertaining to the acquisition of a prescription medication. A pharmacist shall disclose any and all relevant information pertaining to the clinical efficacy, or the availability of any therapeutically equivalent alternative prescription medications, or any alternative methods to the purchasing of a prescription medication, including, but not limited to, paying a cash price, that is less expensive than the cost of the prescription medication to the insured individual.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.