| R 410 |
| 2019 -- H 6260 AS AMENDED Enacted 06/28/2019 |
| H O U S E R E S O L U T I O N |
| CREATING A LEGISLATIVE STUDY COMMISSION TO EXAMINE AND RECOMMEND GUIDELINES FOR STEP THERAPY PRESCRIPTION DRUG PROTOCOLS |
| Introduced By: Representatives Serpa, Shekarchi, Cortvriend, Edwards, and Phillips |
| Date Introduced: June 27, 2019 |
| WHEREAS, Various health plans provided by health insurers, nonprofit hospital service |
| corporations, nonprofit medical service corporations and health maintenance organizations use |
| step therapy protocols to optimize prescribing prescription medications and control costs incurred |
| for prescription medications by requiring that patients first try lower cost alternatives before |
| gaining access to more expensive options; and |
| WHEREAS, A valid concern is that this approach can impede immediate access to vital |
| treatments by requiring patients to try therapies that have previously been proven less effective or |
| wholly ineffective; now, therefore be it |
| RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created |
| consisting of thirteen (13) fifteen (15) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the |
| House, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the Speaker of the |
| House; one of whom shall be a representative from a pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), to be |
| appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be the Executive Director of the |
| Rhode Island Medical Society, or designee; one of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode |
| Island Department of Health Administration, or designee; two (2) of whom shall be |
| representatives from the health insurance industry, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; |
| one of whom shall be a licensed pharmacist from a retail chain, to be appointed by the Speaker of |
| the House; one of whom shall be a member of the public, to be appointed by the Speaker of the |
| House; one of whom shall be a representative from the pharmaceutical industry, to be appointed |
| by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a representative from the American Cancer |
| Society, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House; one of whom shall be a Rhode Island |
| representative of the New England Hemophilia Association, to be appointed by the Speaker of the |
| House; one of whom shall be a representative of the Arthritis Foundation Rhode Island, to be |
| appointed by the Speaker of the House; and one of whom shall be the President of America's |
| Health Insurance Plans (AHP), or designee. |
| In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory |
| commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a General Assembly |
| resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu |
| of a legislator. |
| The purpose of said commission shall be to examine current clinical guidelines, |
| screening, policies, and procedures for step therapy prescription drug protocols used by insurers, |
| health plans, and various health care providers and recommend possible alternative options, |
| appeal procedures, and screening methods to provide for more immediate coverage and |
| eligibility, and review the cost impact for the utilization and prescription of augmented |
| prescription drugs. |
| Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at |
| the call of the Speaker of the House and organize and shall select from among the legislators, a |
| chairperson |
| Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment. |
| The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services. |
| All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, |
| documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or |
| desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution. |
| The Speaker of the House is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters |
| for said commission; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the |
| House of Representatives no later than April 28, 2020, and said commission shall expire on May |
| 28, 2020. |
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| LC002930 |
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