COLORADO
Insulin Co-Pays Capped At $100 For Insured Residents
A new
law
, signed by Gov. Jared Polis, caps co-payments of the lifesaving medication at $100 a month for insured patients, regardless of the supply they require. Insurance companies will have to absorb the balance.
The law also directs the state's attorney general to launch an investigation into how prescription insulin prices are set throughout the state and make recommendations to the legislature.
Colorado is the first state to enact such sweeping legislation aiming to shield patients from dramatic insulin price increases.
Published by NPR (edited
)
GEORGIA
Anti-Steering Bills Signed
In a huge victory for patients and pharmacists, Georgia governor Brian Kemp signed two PBM anti-steering bills into law yesterday. HB 233 is a bill that prohibits pharmacies from profiting off of prescriptions "steered" from their PBM and insurance affiliates, and HB 323 restricts PBM and insurer patient "steering," strengthens anti-mandatory mail order, adds additional audit protections, prohibits PBMs from knowingly misleading patients, and restricts mining of patient data. These bills are the first in the nation of their kind to become law. Congratulations to the Georgia Pharmacy Association and all the Georgia pharmacists who worked hard to get these bills passed.
Published by NCPA
*****
Insurance Chief Suspended As He Fights Fraud Charges
Jim Beck, Georgia's insurance commissioner, is now officially suspended from office in the wake of his federal indictment Tuesday on charges of fraud and money laundering. Beck announced Thursday that he was voluntarily taking a suspension. The insurance department said that in his absence, Drew Lane, the chief deputy commissioner, would perform the duties of commissioner as outlined under state law.
By Miller, Published in Georgia Health News
MINNESOTA
Governor signs PBM licensure bill
by NCPA | May 20, 2019
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D) has signed SF 278, the Minnesota Pharmacy Benefit Manager Licensure and Regulation Act which will require licensure of PBMs in Minnesota. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate and with only two dissenting votes in the House.
The legislation is Minnesota's first step to license and regulate PBMs. Kudos to the Minnesota Pharmacists Association for their leadership in getting the bill passed. Minnesota is home to OptumRx and Prime Therapeutics and has a significant PBM employee footprint in Minnesota, but the measure passed on bipartisan votes.
Published By NCPA
NORTH CAROLINA
Treasurer Moves Forward With Health Care Pricing Plan Despite Uncertainty
State treasurer Dale Folwell released the details of the contracts he wants North Carolina's health care providers to sign if they want to participate in the health plan covering state employees, retirees and their families. The contracts, part of what Folwell is calling the Clear Pricing Project, reworks the way that health care providers are reimbursed. Some providers, in particular hospitals, will feel the pinch under the plan, which pegs prices paid by the State Health Plan to those paid by the federal Medicare program for services.
By Hoban, Published in North Carolina Health News
OKLAHOMA
NCPA urges Oklahoma governor to sign PBM regulation bill
For the second time this session, the Oklahoma State Legislature has unanimously passed a bill that would protect patient access to community pharmacies. The first bill was vetoed by Gov. Kevin Stitt to avoid potential lawsuits by the PBMs.
HB 2632
, however, contains changes to address those concerns while maintaining robust protections for patients and community pharmacies.
NCPA sent a letter
to Stitt urging him to sign HB 2632 into law.
Published by NCPA
WASHINGTON
'Public Option' Health Care Plans
Millions of Americans who buy individual health insurance, and don't qualify for a federal subsidy, have been hit with sticker shock in recent years. Instability and uncertainty in the individual market - driven in part by changes Congress and the Trump administration made to the Affordable Care Act - have resulted in double-digit premium increases. Now Washington state has passed a law designed to give consumers another choice: a new, "public option" health insurance plan that, in theory, will be cheaper.
By Jenkins, Published by NPR
