(a) An entity conducting a pharmacy audit shall not receive payment or any other consideration on any basis that is tied to the amount claimed or actual amount recovered from the pharmacy that is the subject of the audit. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to prevent the pharmacy benefit manager or health benefit plan from charging or assessing the plan sponsor, directly or indirectly, based on amounts recouped if both of the following conditions are met:
(1) The plan sponsor and the pharmacy benefit manager or health benefit plan have a contract that explicitly states the percentage charge or assessment to the plan sponsor.
(2) No commission or financial incentive is paid to an agent or employee of the entity conducting the pharmacy audit based, directly or indirectly, on amounts recouped.
(b) A pharmacy shall not be subject to recoupment of funds for a clerical or recordkeeping error, unless the error resulted in actual financial harm to the pharmacy benefit manager, the carrier, or the beneficiary of a health benefit plan.
(Added by Stats. 2012, Ch. 706, Sec. 1. (SB 1195) Effective January 1, 2013.)