Bill > H3465

This bill repeals two sections of a previous act (sections 131 and 226 of chapter 139 of the acts of 2012) and then mandates that the Health Policy Commission, in collaboration with the Department of Public Health, analyze the impact of co-pay assistance programs on healthcare costs. Co-pay assistance programs are defined as discounts, rebates, product vouchers, or other reductions in an individual's out-of-pocket expenses for certain biological products and prescription drugs. This analysis, which will cover the period from August 1, 2012, to July 31, 2017, will examine various aspects, including the number of transactions benefiting from these programs, the total savings generated, the types of drugs most frequently covered, the impact on generic versus brand-name drug use, patient adherence to medications, and the availability of these programs for prescription renewals. The Health Policy Commission is authorized to contract with external experts and require manufacturers to report on their use of these programs. The findings of this analysis are to be reported to legislative clerks and relevant committees by December 31, 2017.