91st General Assembly · Funnel one-pager · Monday, November 9, 2026

SSB 1017: Relating to pharmacy benefits manager reverse auctions and group insurance for public employees

Became SF 315 · Its progress continues under the new number.

What it does

This bill relates to pharmacy benefits manager reverse auctions and group insurance for public employees. “Pharmacy benefits manager reverse auction” (reverse auction) is defined in the bill as an automated, transparent, and competitive bidding process conducted online that starts with an opening round of bids and allows qualified pharmacy benefits manager (PBM) bidders to counter-offer a lower price for as many rounds of bidding as determined by the department of administrative services (DAS) for a multiple health plan prescription drug purchasing group.

Cost

See the fiscal note

According to the DAS, the base contract for a technology platform to conduct a PBM reverse auction and the operator of the platform to provide related services is estimated to cost $629,000 in the first year, and $315,000 in each consecutive year.

Senate subcommittee · named January 16, 2025

Sen. Mike Klimesh (R) · mike.klimesh@legis.iowa.gov
Sen. Kevin Alons (R) · kevin.alons@legis.iowa.gov
Sen. Janet Petersen (D) · janet.petersen@legis.iowa.gov

Lobbying · 3 for, 1 against

For: Iowa Association of Rural Health Clinics; Iowa Behavioral Health Association (IBHA); Iowa Primary Care Association

Against: Federation of Iowa Insurers

In plain words

January 16, 2025Filed in the Senate and sent to the Health and Human Services committee
January 16, 2025Senate subcommittee named: Klimesh, Alons and Petersen
January 22, 2025Subcommittee recommended passing it with changes
February 12, 2025Approved by the Senate committee, and given a new number: SF 315