Amendment #1184 to H4700

Prescription Drug Coupon Task Force

Representatives Jones of North Reading, Ferguson of Holden, Frost of Auburn, Gifford of Wareham, Barrows of Mansfield and Smola of Warren moves to amend the bill by adding the following outside section:

“SECTION XX. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a prescription drug coupon task force to study and make recommendations on further regulating prescription drug coupons. The task force shall consist of the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on health care financing or their designees, who shall serve as the co-chairs; one member to be appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; one member to be appointed by the president of the senate; one member to be appointed by the house minority leader; one member to be appointed by the senate minority leader; the secretary of health and human services or a designee; the commissioner of the department of public health or a designee; the commissioner of the division of insurance or a designee; the director of the health policy commission or a designee; and the executive director of the center for health information and analysis or a designee. The task force shall make recommendations on regulatory measures to increase transparency and accountability in the administration and use of prescription drug coupons, including but not limited to requiring drug manufacturer transparency reports; pharmacy benefit manager transparency reports; hospital price transparency reports; implementing copayment caps; applying drug rebate cost savings to insureds’ cost sharing requirements; establishing upper payment limits; prohibiting price gouging and implementing fines for violators; and restricting pharmaceutical gag clauses. The commission shall submit its report and findings, along with any recommendations and drafted legislation, to the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means, and the chairs of the joint committee on health care financing within 12 months of the passage of this act.”

Additional co-sponsor(s) added to Amendment #1184 to H4700

Prescription Drug Coupon Task Force