SENATE DOCKET, NO. 395 FILED ON: 1/16/2017
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 523
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
James B. Eldridge
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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: |
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James B. Eldridge | Middlesex and Worcester |
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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
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In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)
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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.