SENATE DOCKET, NO. 395        FILED ON: 1/16/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 523

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

James B. Eldridge

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act ensuring access to medications.

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PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

 

Jennifer E. Benson

37th Middlesex

1/26/2017

Michael J. Rodrigues

First Bristol and Plymouth

2/2/2017

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

2/2/2017

Sean Garballey

23rd Middlesex

2/3/2017

Thomas M. Stanley

9th Middlesex

2/3/2017

Colleen M. Garry

36th Middlesex

2/3/2017

Carmine L. Gentile

13th Middlesex

2/23/2017


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 395        FILED ON: 1/16/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 523

By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 523) of James B. Eldridge, Jennifer E. Benson, Michael J. Rodrigues, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to ensure access to medications.  Financial Services.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act ensuring access to medications.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.  Section 3B of chapter 176D of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2014 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the word "network" in line 70, the following sentence:-

A carrier shall not prohibit the dispensing of specialty drugs as defined by this section that are included in its pharmaceutical drug benefits to insureds by a non-network pharmacy provided that the pharmacy is able to provide the special handling, administration and monitoring requirements of the specialty drug.; and

said section 3B, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting, after the word “process” in line 119, the following sentence:-

The term "specialty drugs" shall mean prescription medications that require special handling, administration or monitoring.

SECTION 2.  The board of registration in pharmacy and the division of insurance shall promulgate regulations to enforce section 1 of this act.