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Bill > H1203


MA H1203

MA H1203
Relative to pharmaceutical gag clauses


summary

Introduced
02/27/2025
In Committee
02/27/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

194th General Court

Bill Summary

Relative to contracts for pharmacy services between health insurance carriers or pharmacy benefits' managers and pharmacies or pharmacists. Financial Services.

AI Summary

This bill addresses pharmaceutical "gag clauses" by prohibiting health insurance carriers and pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs) from including contract provisions that prevent pharmacists from disclosing crucial cost information to patients. Specifically, the bill ensures that pharmacists can inform patients about the total cost of a prescription medication and alternative purchasing options, such as paying a cash price that might be cheaper than using insurance. Additionally, the bill prevents insurance carriers and PBMs from requiring patients to pay more for a prescription at the point of sale than they would if they purchased the medication without using their health insurance plan. This legislation aims to increase transparency in prescription drug pricing and provide patients with more information to make cost-effective healthcare decisions, ultimately empowering consumers to potentially save money on their medications by understanding and comparing different payment options.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Hearing scheduled for 10/01/2025 from 10:30 AM-01:00 PM in B-1 (on 10/01/2025)

bill text


bill summary

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bill summary

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bill summary

Document Type Source Location
State Bill Page https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1203
BillText https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1203.pdf
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