| Chapter 263 |
| 2023 -- S 0575 SUBSTITUTE A Enacted 06/22/2023 |
| A N A C T |
| RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES |
Introduced By: Senators Lauria, Miller, Ujifusa, Bell, Murray, Euer, Kallman, Lawson, DiMario, and Valverde |
| Date Introduced: March 07, 2023 |
| It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: |
| SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance |
| Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 27-18-9194 . Epinephrine injectors. |
| (a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that epinephrine cartridges and injectors |
| are life-saving devices which that must be administered quickly to be effective. Such |
| administration is often done by persons who are not health care healthcare professionals, and is |
| done in an emergency situation. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of the people of the state to |
| promote the widespread availability of epinephrine cartridges and injectors. |
| (b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides |
| prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state |
| on or after January 1, 2025, shall provide coverage for at least one type of epinephrine auto-injectors |
| and cartridges. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be met, to |
| obtain a two (2) pack of the epinephrine auto-injectors or cartridges covered by the contract, plan, |
| or policy, once every twelve-(12)month (12) plan year. A deductible may be applied to health plans |
| that are paired with a federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S Code U.S.C. § |
| 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to |
| January 1, 2025. |
| SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service |
| Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 27-19-8386. Epinephrine injectors. |
| (a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that epinephrine cartridges and injectors |
| are life-saving devices which that must be administered quickly to be effective. Such |
| administration is often done by persons who are not health care healthcare professionals, and is |
| done in an emergency situation. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of the people of the state to |
| promote the widespread availability of epinephrine cartridges and injectors. |
| (b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides |
| prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state |
| on or after January 1, 2025, shall provide coverage for at least one type of epinephrine auto-injectors |
| and cartridges. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be met, to |
| obtain a two (2) pack of the epinephrine auto-injectors or cartridges covered by the contract, plan, |
| or policy, once every twelve-(12)month (12) plan year. A deductible may be applied to health plans |
| that are paired with a federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S Code U.S.C. § |
| 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to |
| January 1, 2025. |
| SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service |
| Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 27-20-7982. Epinephrine injectors. |
| (a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that epinephrine cartridges and injectors |
| are life-saving devices which that must be administered quickly to be effective. Such |
| administration is often done by persons who are not health care healthcare professionals, and is |
| done in an emergency situation. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of the people of the state to |
| promote the widespread availability of epinephrine cartridges and injectors. |
| (b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides |
| prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state |
| on or after January 1, 2025, shall provide coverage for at least one type of epinephrine auto-injectors |
| and cartridges. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be met, to |
| obtain a two (2) pack of the epinephrine auto-injectors or cartridges covered by the contract, plan, |
| or policy, once every twelve-(12) month (12) plan year. A deductible may be applied to health |
| plans that are paired with a federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S Code |
| U.S.C. § 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit |
| prior to January 1, 2025. |
| SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance |
| Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
| 27-41-9699. Epinephrine injectors. |
| (a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that epinephrine cartridges and injectors |
| are life-saving devices which that must be administered quickly to be effective. Such |
| administration is often done by persons who are not health care healthcare professionals, and is |
| done in an emergency situation. Accordingly, it is in the best interests of the people of the state to |
| promote the widespread availability of epinephrine cartridges and injectors. |
| (b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides |
| prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state |
| on or after January 1, 2025, shall provide coverage for at least one type of epinephrine auto-injectors |
| and cartridges. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be met, to |
| obtain a two (2) pack of the epinephrine auto-injectors or cartridges covered by the contract, plan, |
| or policy, once every twelve-(12)month (12) plan year. A deductible may be applied to health plans |
| that are paired with a federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S Code U.S.C. § |
| 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to |
| January 1, 2025. |
| SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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| LC001879/SUB A |
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