HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3551        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 953

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Marjorie C. Decker

_________________

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 patient financial protection.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

1/18/2019

Carlos González

10th Hampden

1/24/2019

James K. Hawkins

2nd Bristol

1/25/2019

José F. Tosado

9th Hampden

1/25/2019


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3551        FILED ON: 1/18/2019

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 953

By Ms. Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 953) of Marjorie C. Decker and others relative to regulating separate out-of-pocket insurance limits for prescription drugs, including specialty drugs.  Financial Services.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 513 OF 2017-2018.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act relative to patient financial protection.

 

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. Chapter 175 of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 47DD the following section:-

Section 47EE. Any policy, contract, agreement, plan or certificate of insurance issued, delivered or renewed within the commonwealth that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall establish a separate out-of-pocket limit for prescription drugs, which shall include specialty drugs. The out-of-pocket limit shall not exceed the dollar amount set as the minimum annual deductible for a high deductible health plan under section 223 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. §223 (c)(2)(A)(i), for self-only and family coverage, respectively. For the purposes of this section the term “out-of-pocket limit” shall include expenses that: (1) are a  cost-sharing expenditure under section 1302 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 42 U.S.C. §18022 (c)(3); and (2) relate to prescription drug coverage.

SECTION 2. Chapter 176A of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 8FF the following section:-

Section 8GG. Any contract between a subscriber and the corporation under an individual or group hospital service plan which is delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall establish a separate out-of-pocket limit for prescription drugs, which shall include specialty drugs. The out out-of-pocket limit shall not exceed the dollar amount set as the minimum annual deductible for a high deductible health plan under section 223 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. §223 (c)(2)(A)(i), for self-only and family coverage, respectively. For the purposes of this section the term “out-of-pocket limit” shall include expenses that: (1) are a cost-sharing expenditure under section 1302 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 42 U.S.C. §18022 (c)(3); and (2) relate to prescription drug coverage.              

SECTION 3. Chapter 176B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4FF the following section:-

Section 4GG. Any subscription certificate under an individual or group medical service agreement delivered, issued or renewed within the commonwealth that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall establish a separate out-of-pocket limit for prescription drugs, which shall include specialty drugs. The out-of-pocket limit shall not exceed the dollar amount set as the minimum annual deductible for a high deductible health plan under section 223 of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. §223 (c)(2)(A)(i), for self-only and family coverage, respectively. For the purposes of this section the term “out-of-pocket limit” shall include expenses that: (1) are a cost-sharing expenditure under section 1302 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 42 U.S.C. §18022 (c)(3); and (2) relate to prescription drug coverage.              

SECTION 4. Chapter 176G of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 4X the following section:-

Section 4Y. (a) Any individual or group health maintenance organization that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall establish a separate out-of-pocket limit for prescription drugs, which shall include specialty drugs. The out-of-pocket limit shall not exceed the dollar amount set as the minimum annual deductible for a high deductible health plan under section 223of the federal Internal Revenue Code of 1986, 26 U.S.C. §223 (c)(2)(A)(i), for self-only and family coverage, respectively. For the purposes of this section the term “out-of-pocket limit” shall include expenses that: (1) are a cost-sharing expenditure under section 1302 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, 42 U.S.C. §18022 (c)(3); and (2) relate to prescription drug coverage.              

SECTION 5. This act shall apply to all policies, contracts and certificates of health insurance subject to section 47EE of chapter 175, section 8GG of chapter 176A, section 4GG of chapter 176B and section 4Y of chapter 176G of the General Laws delivered, issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2015.