2019 -- H 6260

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LC002930

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION TO EXAMINE AND RECOMMEND

GUIDELINES FOR STEP THERAPY PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROTOCOLS

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, Shekarchi, Cortvriend, Edwards, and Phillips

     Date Introduced: June 27, 2019

     Referred To: House read and passed

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     WHEREAS, Various health plans provided by health insurers, nonprofit hospital service

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corporations, nonprofit medical service corporations and health maintenance organizations use

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step therapy protocols to optimize prescribing prescription medications and control costs incurred

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for prescription medications by requiring that patients first try lower cost alternatives before

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gaining access to more expensive options; and

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     WHEREAS, A valid concern is that this approach can impede immediate access to vital

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treatments by requiring patients to try therapies that have previously been proven less effective or

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wholly ineffective; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created

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consisting of thirteen (13) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the House, not more

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than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of

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whom shall be a representative from a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), to be appointed by the

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Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Medical

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Society, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of

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Health, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be representatives from the health insurance industry,

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to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a licensed pharmacist from a

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retail chain, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a member of the

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public, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a representative from

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the pharmaceutical industry, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a

 

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representative from the American Cancer Society, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House;

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and one of whom shall be the President of America's Health Insurance Plans (AHP), or designee.

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     In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory

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commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly

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resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu

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of a legislator.

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     The purpose of said commission shall be to examine current clinical guidelines,

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screening, policies, and procedures for step therapy prescription drug protocols used by insurers,

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health plans, and various health care providers and recommend possible alternative options,

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appeal procedures, and screening methods to provide for more immediate coverage and

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eligibility, and review the cost impact for the utilization and prescription of augmented

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prescription drugs.

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     Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at

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the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select from among the legislators, a

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chairperson

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     Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

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     The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

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     All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information,

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documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or

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desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

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     The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters

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for said commission; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the

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House of Representatives no later than April 28, 2020, and said commission shall expire on May

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28, 2020.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CREATING A LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION TO EXAMINE AND RECOMMEND

GUIDELINES FOR STEP THERAPY PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROTOCOLS

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     This resolution would create a thirteen (13) member special legislative commission

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whose purpose it would be to make a comprehensive review and recommend guidelines for step

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therapy protocols, and who would report back to the House of Representatives no later than April

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28, 2020, and whose life would expire on May 28, 2020.

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