Senate Bill #497 (2021)
AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS
Pharmacists may discuss reimbursement criteria with individuals presenting prescriptions.
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2021-03-04: Introduced, referred to Senate Health and Human Services
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2021-03-12: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (03/18/2021)
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2021-03-18: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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2021-05-21: Scheduled for consideration (05/27/2021)
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2021-05-27: Committee recommends passage
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2021-05-28: Placed on Senate Calendar (06/01/2021)
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2021-06-01: Senate read and passed
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2021-06-02: Referred to House Health & Human Services
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2021-06-11: Scheduled for hearing (06/14/2021)
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2021-06-14: Committee recommended measure be held for further study
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2021-06-28: Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (06/30/2021)
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2021-06-29: Proposed Substitute
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2021-06-30: Committee recommends passage of Sub A
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2021-06-30: Placed on House Calendar (07/01/2021)
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2021-07-01: Senate passed Sub A in concurrence
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2021-07-01: House passed Sub A
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2021-07-01: Placed on Senate Calendar
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2021-07-01: Placed on Senate Calendar (07/01/2021)
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2021-07-02: Transmitted to Governor
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2021-07-06: Signed by Governor
Changes since original draft
2021 – S 0497 ======== LC001372 ======== S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021 ____________ A N A C T RELATING TO INSURANCE – PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS Introduced By: Senators Felag, Coyne, Seveney, Sosnowski, Ciccone, and Raptakis Date Introduced: March 04, 2021 Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services It is enacted by the GeneralAssembly as follows:- 2021 – S 0497 SUBSTITUTE A ======== LC001372/SUB A ========
- S TATE OF RHODE IS L AND
- IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
- JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2021
- ____________
- A N A C T
- RELATING TO INSURANCE – PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS
- Introduced By: Senators Felag, Coyne, Seveney, Sosnowski, Ciccone, and Raptakis
- Date Introduced: March 04, 2021
- Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services It is enacted by the GeneralAssembly as follows:
- SECTION 1. Chapter 27-20.8 of the GeneralLaws entitled "Prescription Drug Benefits"is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
- 27-20.8-3. Price disclosure.
A plan sponsor, health insurance carrier, or pharmacy benefit manager shallnot: (1) Prohibit a pharmacist from discussing reimbursement criteria with an individual presenting a prescription; (2) Penalize a pharmacyor pharmacist for disclosing the information described in subsection (1) of this section toanindividual presenting a prescription or for selling a more affordable alternative to an individual presenting a prescription; or (3) Require a pharmacy or pharmacist to charge or collect a copayment from an individual presenting a prescription thatexceedsthetotalchargessubmitted bythe network pharmacy. SECTION 2. This act shalltake effect upon passage. ======== LC001372 ========- A plan sponsor, health insurance carrier, or pharmacy benefit manager shall not
- prohibit a pharmacist from providing an insured information regarding the amount of the
- insured's costshare for a prescription drug. Neither a pharmacy nor a pharmacist shall be
- penalized by a pharmacybenefits manager for discussing any information describedin this
- section or for selling a lower-priced drug to the insured if one is available.
- SECTION 2. This act shalltake effect upon passage. ======== LC001372/SUB A ========
- EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF- BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
- OF
- A N A C T
- RELATING TO INSURANCE – PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFITS
*** This act would bar health insurance plans from prohibiting pharmacists discussing reimbursement criteria with individuals presenting prescriptions. Furthermore, health insurance plans may not penalize a pharmacy or pharmacist from disclosing reimbursement criteria with an individual presenting a prescription or for not charging a copayment from anindividual presenting a prescription that exceeds the totalcharges submitted by the network pharmacy. This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC001372 ======== LC001372 - Page 2of 2- ***
- This act would bar health insurance plans from prohibiting pharmacists from discussing reimbursement criteria with individuals presenting prescriptions and provides that health insurance plans may not penalize a pharmacy or pharmacist from disclosing reimbursement criteria with an individual presenting a prescription.
- This act would take effect upon passage. ======== LC001372/SUB A ========
- LC001372/SUB A - Page 2of 2
Votes
NOTE: Electronic voting records are unofficial and may not be accurate. For an official vote tally, check the
House or Senate Journal from the day of the vote.
June 01, 2021 at 4:41pm
Yeas: 36 /
Nays: 0 /
Not voting: 2 /
Recused: 0
July 01, 2021 at 9:06pm
Yeas: 32 /
Nays: 0 /
Not voting: 5 /
Recused: 1