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SB161: Transparency to help patients manage out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs will be heard in the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee THIS AFTERNOON. If your State Senator is on this Committee (see below), please email/call them NOW to ask for their support.
Background: HB625/SB161 Transparency to help patients manage out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs.
Patrons: Delegate Henson (HD-19) and Senator Perry (SD-31)
Patients who require specialty tier medications for complex or chronic conditions are often required to pay a co-insurance that could be thousands of dollars for a single month’s supply of medication.
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High-cost specialty medications include many newer, targeted breast cancer therapies, immunotherapy, and those used to treat Stage IV metastatic breast cancer.
- HB625/SB161 (identical bills) would require that health insurance carriers give patients an option to select a capped, flat-dollar co-pay-only health insurance plan, helping make costs stable and predictable.
- This plan choice would ensure that co-pays for any covered medication within that plan would not exceed $100 per prescription per month in Silver/Gold/Platinum plans or $150 per prescription per month in Bronze plans.
TAKE ACTION:
EMAIL YOUR LEGISLATOR: If your State Senator is on the Commerce & Labor Committee (see table below), please email them NOW to ask for their support for SB161 If you do not know who your legislators are, go to: Who's My Legislator?
Sample Email Text:
Dear Senator x:
As a volunteer advocate with the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation, and your constituent, I’m asking you to support SB161 and give patients the option to choose a health insurance plan with transparent and predictable out-of-pocket costs for life-saving treatment.
Under many health insurance plans, prescription drugs for complex and chronic illnesses require patients to pay co-insurance, which is a percentage of the total cost of their drug. Unpredictable and unaffordable out-of-pocket costs can force patients to skip doses of life-saving medications or stop taking their prescriptions altogether.
As a member of the breast cancer community, I know that high-cost specialty medications include many newer, targeted breast cancer therapies, immunotherapy, and those used to treat Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. [INSERT YOUR EXPERIENCE IF APPLICABLE]
Having the option to choose a health insurance plan with flat-dollar copays will allow patients to manage both their health and their finances. I urge you to vote for SB161.
Senate Commerce & Labor Members:
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