Bill > S749

This bill aims to improve pharmaceutical access, costs, and transparency in Massachusetts. Key provisions include: 1. Establishing a drug access program to enhance access to certain high-value generic and brand-name drugs used to treat chronic conditions like diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. 2. Requiring pharmaceutical manufacturers to provide early notice to the Health Policy Commission about new drugs, generic drugs, and biosimilars, as well as planned price increases for certain drugs. 3. Allowing the Health Policy Commission to review the pricing of certain high-cost drugs and work with manufacturers to develop "access and affordability improvement plans" to improve access and affordability. 4. Increasing transparency and data reporting requirements for pharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, and other industry entities. 5. Providing coverage requirements and cost-sharing limits for certain generic and brand-name drugs identified by the drug access program, as well as insulin. 6. Establishing a Prescription Drug Cost Assistance Trust Fund to provide financial assistance to state residents for the cost of certain prescription drugs. 7. Requiring licensing and regulation of pharmacy benefit managers by the Division of Insurance.

Health and Social Services

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/S749