(a)        The Commissioner may make an examination of the affairs of any pharmacy benefits manager pursuant to the services that it provides for an insurer or a health benefit plan that are relevant to determining if the pharmacy benefits manager is in compliance with this Article. When making an examination, the Commissioner may retain attorneys, independent actuaries, independent certified public accountants, or other professionals and specialists as examiners. The pharmacy benefits manager shall bear the cost of retaining those persons.

(b)        Pending, during, and after the examination of any pharmacy benefits manager, the Commissioner shall not make public the information or data acquired, and the information or data acquired during an examination is considered proprietary and confidential and is not a public record under Chapter 132 of the N.C. Gen. Stat..

(c)        Violations of this Article are subject to the penalties under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 58-56A-30. After notice and hearing, a pharmacy benefits manager may also be subject to revocation of, or a refusal to renew, a license to operate in this State as a result of violations of this Article. ?(2021-161, s. 1(b).)