H 982 Massachusetts House · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act relative to non-medical switching

This bill prohibits health insurance carriers in Massachusetts from forcing patients to switch to cheaper alternative drugs if their current prescription is medically stable and was prescribed within the last six months. It specifically bans insurers from increasing costs, reducing coverage limits, or moving covered medications to more restrictive tiers during open enrollment or after a plan year begins. The law requires that coverage for these approved medications continue through the end of the patient's eligibility period unless the drug's safety is questioned by the FDA or its manufacturer.
Bill status passed 3 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2023
Committee Review
Feb 2024
Senate Passage
Feb 2023
Governor
Introduced Feb 16, 2023 Last action May 9, 2024
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate. No roll call record of that vote is available.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
5
Key actions
1
Committee
2
Feb 22, 2024
Committee
Reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Health Care Financing
lower
Feb 16, 2023
Upper · Passed
Senate concurred
upper
Feb 16, 2023
Committee
Referred to the committee on Financial Services
lower
1 primary · 8 co-sponsors

Sponsors