Legislative Spotlight
Welcome to our new Legislative Spotlight feature! Here, we will highlight a healthcare bill that needs our help to either pass or to be defeated. The featured bills will mainly come to us from the state legislatures, but sometimes we will include a federal bill. All of these bills will be of high impact to the chronic and autoimmune communities, and we will be asking you to take action with us in opposition or support.
Bill of the month: Kentucky HB 72
This legislation limits insurance companies’ ability to institute copay accumulator programs. A copay accumulator is a policy where those of us who receive financial assistance from a nonprofit or drug manufacturer to cover the costs of expensive medication will no longer have those payments applied to our deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums. (Even though they are getting their money, if it’s not yours, it doesn’t count.)
Protects patients from having to pay more for a medication that what they would have paid if they didn’t have insurance (if they paid full price)
Requires any financial assistance received to be applied to the patient’s deductible and out-of-pocket maximum unless it is for a medication that has a generic alternative.
Protects pharmacies and pharmacists from retaliation if they share ways to reduce costs by going around the insurance company.
Want to learn more about CoPay Accumulator Programs? Read This!
Take ACTION
Readers, this is where you come in! Kentucky residents, contact your state senator and representative and let them know know you support the bill. Not an Kentucky resident? Reach out to any friends and family that are and urge them to contact their legislators.
