1. A. A person seeking to be licensed as a Pharmacy Benefit Manager in this state shall file an application for a certificate of authority on a form prescribed by the Director of the Department which shall be transmitted for review and approval through an electronic online system as required by the Director of the Department under A.R.S. § 20-3333(B). The applicant shall pay the fee to the Department at the time it submits its application.
2. B. Beginning January 1, 2025, a person shall not operate as a Pharmacy Benefit Manager in this state without a certificate of authority.
3. C. The Department deems an application as filed with the Director of the Department when the Department receives a completed application and the required fee from an applicant.
4. D. The Director of the Department may require, at the Director’s discretion, that an applicant for a certificate of authority under A.R.S. § 20-3333(A) submit information that discloses biographical, employment and business financial history, criminal activity, fingerprints, or any other information that relates to the ability to operate as a Pharmacy Benefit Manager for principals, principal officers, and individuals responsible for the conduct of the activities of the Pharmacy Benefit Manager if necessary for the protection of residents of this state.

5. E. An applicant shall have a period to remedy disqualifications to licensure pursuant to A.R.S. § 20-3333(C).

   1. 1. If the Director of the Department determines that an applicant is not qualified to be licensed after the overall time frame for the application is complete, the Director of the Department shall provide a written notification to the applicant of the Director’s intent to deny the application that specifies the disqualifications to licensure.
   2. 2. The applicant shall have 60 days from the date of the Director’s notification to inform the Director of the Department that it has remedied the disqualifications.
   3. 3. If the applicant fails to respond to the Director of the Department within 60 days, or the Director of the Department determines that the applicant has failed to remedy the disqualifications to licensure, the Director of the Department shall deny the application.
   4. 4. The Director of the Department’s denial of the application is an appealable agency action within the meaning of A.R.S. § 41-1092(4).
6. F. The Department shall notify an applicant of the approval of the certificate of authority and the effective date and expiration date of the certificate. No paper certificate is required.

Historical Note

New Section made by final rulemaking at 31 A.A.R. 4446 (November 28, 2025), effective January 4, 2026 (Supp. 25-4).