NO CHOLESTEROL-LOWERING DRUG COST SHARING
SB 443 prohibits health insurance plans in New Mexico from requiring patients to pay copays, deductibles, or coinsurance for cholesterol-lowering drugs. It applies to all group health coverage, individual health insurance policies, HMOs, and nonprofit health care plans delivered, issued, or renewed in the state. The bill defines "cost sharing" broadly to include any out-of-pocket payment beyond premiums, ensuring these medications are covered without financial barriers. The law would take effect on January 1, 2026, if enacted.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2025
Senate Passage
Mar 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 19, 2025
Last action Jun 3, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons
What changed between versions
CT substitute
→
PA substitute
·
4 edits
MODERATE
The bill was reorganized and simplified from six sections to four sections, consolidating similar provisions and removing redundant language. The core policy remains unchanged: prohibiting cost sharing for generic cholesterol medications and second-line medications when generics fail or cause adverse reactions. The changes primarily affect formatting, section numbering, and minor wording adjustments rather than substantive policy.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains the same, covering group health coverage, health insurance policies, health care plans, and health maintenance organization contracts in New Mexico. No new exemptions were added or removed.
TECHNICAL
Reorganized from six sections to four sections, combining and removing redundant coverage provisions for different plan types.
Changed section headers from specific law names to more general descriptions in some instances.
Removed duplicate coverage provisions that appeared in multiple sections in the original version.
DEFINITION
Minor wording changes in definitions of 'cost sharing' and covered individuals across different sections.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 17, 2025
How they voted
22–11
Passed · 7 other
Total votes 40
Mar 17, 2025
D
Democratic24
87% Yea
R
Republican16
68% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
7
Key actions
4
Committee
3
Mar 19, 2025
Lower · Passed
DO PASS committee report adopted
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Introduced
Sent to House Health & Human Services Committee
lower
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
passed Senate
upper
Mar 16, 2025
Upper · Passed
DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute
upper
Mar 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
DO NOT PASS, replaced with committee substitute
upper
Feb 19, 2025
Introduced
Sent to Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee & Senate Tax, Business and Transportation Committee
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Martin Hickey
DDemocratic
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