Arkansas Act 630 of 2025 requires pharmaceutical manufacturers seeking state government and public plan coverage (including Medicaid) for their prescription drugs to: (1) hold an active wholesale distributor permit with the Arkansas Board of Pharmacy and be in good standing, and (2) not restrict prescription drug distribution to a limited pharmacy network more than three months after launch without ensuring adequate in-state access and allowing pharmacies to request participation.
Manufacturers seeking to maintain a restricted network for six months or longer must obtain affirmative approval from the Arkansas Board of Pharmacy, which includes appearing to present their request.
Applications are due by July 15 for consideration at the Board’s July 28–29 meeting — the final review before the September 1 compliance deadline.
What Does the Board Require?
The Board will evaluate each application based on:
- Cost of the medication
- Logistics and unique handling needs
- Patient caseload
- Rarity of the prescription drug
- Rarity of the disease or condition treated
- Any other factors unique or relevant to the medication, disease, or condition
Applications must also include:
- The drug’s 340B status and any history of restricting contract pharmacy or REMS access
- A list of Arkansas pharmacies currently in the network with same-day access
- A policy for allowing additional qualified Arkansas pharmacies to join the network upon request
Why It Matters
Exemptions are not effective until approved by the Board. The Board will not meet again until October — leaving no additional approval opportunity before the deadline. Companies not in compliance beginning on September 1 can face fines of $10,000 per day.
Is Your Distribution Network Ready?
The July 15 deadline is approaching, and the July 28-29 Board meeting is the last opportunity for manufacturers to obtain Board approval before the September 1 compliance deadline. Manufacturers with limited distribution programs in Arkansas need to act now to assess applicability, gather required information, and prepare a compliant submission.
If you have questions about navigating the Act 630 application process or how it may apply to your distribution model, the PorzioCS team is available to help you think through the next steps. Contact PorzioCS to learn how we can help you navigate the Act 630 process before the Board’s July 28–29 review.