R 410 |
2019 -- H 6260 AS AMENDED Enacted 06/28/2019 |
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 |
WHEREAS, Various health plans provided by health insurers, nonprofit hospital service |
corporations, nonprofit medical service corporations and health maintenance organizations use |
step therapy protocols to optimize prescribing prescription medications and control costs incurred |
for prescription medications by requiring that patients first try lower cost alternatives before |
gaining access to more expensive options; and |
WHEREAS, A valid concern is that this approach can impede immediate access to vital |
treatments by requiring patients to try therapies that have previously been proven less effective or |
wholly ineffective; now, therefore be it |
RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created |
consisting of thirteen (13) fifteen (15) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the |
House, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the |
House; one of whom shall be a representative from a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), to be |
appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the |
Rhode Island Medical Society, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode |
Island Department of Health Administration, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be |
representatives from the health insurance industry, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; |
one of whom shall be a licensed pharmacist from a retail chain, to be appointed by the Speaker of |
the House; one of whom shall be a member of the public, to be appointed by the Speaker of the |
House; one of whom shall be a representative from the pharmaceutical industry, to be appointed |
by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a representative from the American Cancer |
Society, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a Rhode Island |
representative of the New England Hemophilia Association, to be appointed by the Speaker of the |
House; one of whom shall be a representative of the Arthritis Foundation Rhode Island, to be |
appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be the President of America's |
Health Insurance Plans (AHP), or designee. |
In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory |
commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly |
resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu |
of a legislator. |
The purpose of said commission shall be to examine current clinical guidelines, |
screening, policies, and procedures for step therapy prescription drug protocols used by insurers, |
health plans, and various health care providers and recommend possible alternative options, |
appeal procedures, and screening methods to provide for more immediate coverage and |
eligibility, and review the cost impact for the utilization and prescription of augmented |
prescription drugs. |
Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at |
the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select from among the legislators, a |
chairperson |
Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. |
The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. |
All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, |
documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or |
desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. |
The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters |
for said commission; and be it further |
RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the |
House of Representatives no later than April 28, 2020, and said commission shall expire on May |
28, 2020. |
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LC002930 |
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