2024 -- S 2626

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LC005340

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

     

     Introduced By: Senators Lauria, Lawson, Murray, Valverde, Gu, McKenney, DiMario,
Cano, Britto, and Felag

     Date Introduced: March 01, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

1

     SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance

2

Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

3

     27-18-95. Glucagon hypoglycemia medications.

4

     (a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that glucagon auto-injectors are life-

5

saving medications that must be administered quickly to be effective. Such administration is often

6

done by persons who are not health care professionals, and is done in an emergency situation.

7

Accordingly, it is in the best interests of the people of the state to promote the widespread

8

availability of glucagon that does not require reconstitution. Hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose,

9

is a barrier to diabetes control, leads to worse clinical outcomes, stress, increased cost of care and

10

polypharmacy. For unconscious patients, and those unable to ingest oral glucose, glucagon in the

11

ambulatory setting is indicated, but often underutilized due to excessive cost.

12

     (b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides

13

prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state

14

on or after January 1, 2025, shall provide coverage for at least one type of glucagon auto-injector,

15

nasal spray or formulation not requiring reconstitution. There shall be no copayment required and

16

no deductible shall need to be met, to obtain two (2) glucagon auto-injectors, nasal spray or non-

17

reconstituted formulation covered by the contract, plan, or policy, every twelve (12) month plan

18

year. A deductible may be applied to health plans that are paired with federally qualified health

19

savings account pursuant to 26 U.S. Code § 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health

 

1

plan from implementing this benefit prior to January 1. 2025.

2

     SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service

3

Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

4

     27-19-87. Glucagon hypoglycemia medications.

5

     (a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that glucagon auto-injectors are life life-

6

saving medications that must be administered quickly to be effective. Such administration is often

7

done by persons who are not health care professionals, and is done in an emergency situation.

8

Accordingly, it is in the best interests of the people of the state to promote the widespread

9

availability of glucagon that does not require reconstitution. Hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose,

10

is a barrier to diabetes control, leads to worse clinical outcomes, stress, increased cost of care and

11

polypharmacy. For unconscious patients, and those unable to ingest oral glucose, glucagon in the

12

ambulatory setting is indicated, but often underutilized due to excessive cost.

13

     (b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides

14

prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state

15

on or after January 1, 2025, shall provide coverage for at least one type of glucagon auto-injector,

16

nasal spray or formulation not requiring reconstitution. There shall be no copayment required and

17

no deductible shall need to be met, to obtain two (2) glucagon auto-injectors, nasal spray or non-

18

reconstituted formulation covered by the contract, plan, or policy, every twelve (12) month plan

19

year. A deductible may be applied to health plans that are paired with federally qualified health

20

savings account pursuant to 26 U.S. Code § 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health

21

plan from implementing this benefit prior to January 1. 2025.

22

     SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service

23

Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

24

     27-20-83. Glucagon hypoglycemia medications.

25

     (a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that glucagon auto-injectors are life life-

26

saving medications that must be administered quickly to be effective. Such administration is often

27

done by persons who are not health care professionals, and is done in an emergency situation.

28

Accordingly, it is in the best interests of the people of the state to promote the widespread

29

availability of glucagon that does not require reconstitution. Hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose,

30

is a barrier to diabetes control, leads to worse clinical outcomes, stress, increased cost of care and

31

polypharmacy. For unconscious patients, and those unable to ingest oral glucose, glucagon in the

32

ambulatory setting is indicated, but often underutilized due to excessive cost.

33

     (b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides

34

prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state

 

LC005340 - Page 2 of 4

1

on or after January 1, 2025, shall provide coverage for at least one type of glucagon auto-injector,

2

nasal spray or formulation not requiring reconstitution. There shall be no copayment required and

3

no deductible shall need to be met, to obtain two (2) glucagon auto-injectors, nasal spray or non-

4

reconstituted formulation covered by the contract, plan, or policy, every twelve (12) month plan

5

year. A deductible may be applied to health plans that are paired with federally qualified health

6

savings account pursuant to 26 U.S. Code § 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health

7

plan from implementing this benefit prior to January 1. 2025.

8

     SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance

9

Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

10

     27-41-100. Glucagon hypoglycemia medications.

11

     (a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that glucagon auto-injectors are life life-

12

saving medications that must be administered quickly to be effective. Such administration is often

13

done by persons who are not health care professionals, and is done in an emergency situation.

14

Accordingly, it is in the best interests of the people of the state to promote the widespread

15

availability of glucagon that does not require reconstitution. Hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose,

16

is a barrier to diabetes control, leads to worse clinical outcomes, stress, increased cost of care and

17

polypharmacy. For unconscious patients, and those unable to ingest oral glucose, glucagon in the

18

ambulatory setting is indicated, but often underutilized due to excessive cost.

19

     (b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides

20

prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state

21

on or after January 1, 2025, shall provide coverage for at least one type of glucagon auto-injector,

22

nasal spray or formulation not requiring reconstitution. There shall be no copayment required and

23

no deductible shall need to be met, to obtain two (2) glucagon auto-injectors, nasal spray or non-

24

reconstituted formulation covered by the contract, plan, or policy, every twelve (12) month plan

25

year. A deductible may be applied to health plans that are paired with federally qualified health

26

savings account pursuant to 26 U.S. Code § 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health

27

plan from implementing this benefit prior to January 1. 2025.

28

     SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC005340 - Page 3 of 4

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES

***

1

     This act would require, commencing January 1, 2025, group health plans and health

2

insurance issuers that provide prescription benefits to cover at least one type of glucagon auto-

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injector, nasal spray, or formulation which does not require reconstitution to treat hypoglycemia

4

with two (2) glucagon auto-injectors every plan year. No copayment or deductible would be

5

required to obtain prescribed glucagon medications.

6

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC005340 - Page 4 of 4