HB1302: Health insurance; copayments for prescription drugs, disclosures.

HOUSE BILL NO. 1302

Offered January 10, 2018
A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 38.2-3407.15:4, relating to carrier business practices; contracts with pharmacies and pharmacists; amounts charged to an enrollee for covered prescription drugs; disclosure of less expensive alternatives to using enrollee's health plan.
Patron-- Byron

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 38.2-3407.15:4 as follows:

§ 38.2-3407.15:4. Limit on copayment for prescription drugs; permitted disclosures.

A. As used in this section:

"Carrier" has the same meaning ascribed thereto in subsection A of § 38.2-3407.15.

"Copayment" means an amount an enrollee is required to pay at the point of sale in order to receive a covered prescription drug.

"Enrollee" means a policyholder, subscriber, participant, or other individual covered by a health benefit plan.

"Health plan" means any health benefit plan, as defined in § 38.2-3438, that provides coverage for prescription drugs.

"Pharmacy benefits management" means the administration or management of prescription drug benefits provided by a carrier for the benefit of enrollees.

"Pharmacy benefits manager" means an entity that performs pharmacy benefits management. The term includes a person or entity acting for a pharmacy benefits manager in a contractual or employment relationship in the performance of pharmacy benefits management for a carrier.

"Provider contract" has the same meaning ascribed thereto in subsection A of § 38.2-3407.15.

B. No provider contract between a health carrier or its pharmacy benefits manager and a pharmacy or pharmacist shall contain a provision (i) authorizing the carrier or its pharmacy benefits manager to charge, (ii) requiring the pharmacy or pharmacist to collect, or (iii) requiring an enrollee to make, a copayment for a covered prescription drug in an amount that exceeds the least of:

1. The applicable copayment for the prescription drug that would be payable in the absence of this section; or

2. The cash price the enrollee would pay for the prescription drug if the enrollee purchased the prescription drug without using the enrollee's health plan.

C. This section shall apply with respect to provider contracts entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2019.

D. Pursuant to the authority granted by § 38.2-223, the Commission may promulgate such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary to implement this section.

E. The Commission shall have no jurisdiction to adjudicate individual controversies arising out of this section.