SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1588        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 556

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Joan B.  Lovely

_________________

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 relative to medication synchronization.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Joan B.  Lovely

Second Essex

 

John W. Scibak

2nd Hampshire

1/30/2017


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1588        FILED ON: 1/20/2017

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 556

By Ms. Lovely, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 556) of Joan B.  Lovely and John W. Scibak for legislation relative to medication synchronization.  Financial Services.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

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

_______________

 

An Act relative to medication synchronization.

 

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. An individual or group health insurance policy providing prescription drug coverage in the state must permit and apply a pro-rated daily cost-sharing rate to prescriptions that are dispensed by a network pharmacy for a partial supply if the prescriber or pharmacist determines the fill or refill to be in the best interest of the patient and the patient requests or agrees to a partial supply for the purpose of synchronizing the patient’s medications.

No individual or group health insurance policy providing prescription drug coverage shall deny coverage for the dispensing of a medication that is dispensed by a network pharmacy on the basis that the dispensing is for a partial supply if the prescriber or pharmacist determines the fill or refill to be in the best interest of the patient and the patient requests or agrees to a partial supply for the purpose of synchronizing the patient’s medications. The individual or group health plan must allow a pharmacy to override any denial codes indicating that a prescription is being refilled too soon for the purposes of medication synchronization. 

No individual or group health insurance policy providing prescription drug coverage shall use payment structures incorporating pro-rated dispensing fees.  Dispensing fees for partially filled or refilled prescriptions shall be paid in full for each prescription dispensed, regardless of any pro-rated copay for the beneficiary or fee paid for alignment services.