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 | |
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Introduced By: Senators Lauria, Lawson, Murray, Valverde, Gu, McKenney, DiMario, | |
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 |
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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 |
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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 | |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES | |
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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- |
3 | 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 | |
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