HB 234 Virginia House of Delegates · 2018 Regular Session

Health insurance; synchronization of medications.

Summary
Requires any health plan providing prescription drug coverage to permit and apply a prorated daily cost-sharing rate to prescriptions that are dispensed by a network pharmacy for a partial supply if the prescribing provider or the pharmacist determines the fill or refill to be in the best interest of the enrollee and the enrollee requests or agrees to a partial supply for the purpose of synchronizing the enrollee's medications. Such a proration shall not occur more frequently than annually. The measure also prohibits such a health plan from denying coverage for the dispensing of a medication that is dispensed by a network pharmacy on the basis that the dispensing is for a partial supply if the prescribing provider or the pharmacist determines the fill or refill is in the best interest of the enrollee and the enrollee requests or agrees to a partial supply for the purpose of synchronizing his medications. The measure requires health plans to allow a pharmacy to override denial codes indicating that a prescription is being refilled too soon for the purpose of synchronizing the enrollee's medications. The measure prohibits health plans from using payment structures incorporating prorated dispensing fees and requires that dispensing fees for partially filled or refilled prescriptions be paid in full for each prescription dispensed regardless of any prorated copay or fee paid for synchronization services.
Bill status passed 4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2017
Committee Review
Feb 2018
House of Delegates Passage
Feb 2018
Senate Passage
Feb 2018
Governor
Introduced Dec 31, 2017 Last action Mar 14, 2018
Floor votes

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
2
Committee
4
Amendments
1
Feb 6, 2018
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
legislature
Feb 5, 2018
Legislature · Passed
Read third time and passed House BLOCK VOTE (98-Y 0-N)
legislature
Feb 2, 2018
Introduced
Engrossed by House as amended HB234E
legislature
Feb 2, 2018
Legislature · Passed
Committee amendment agreed to
legislature
Jan 18, 2018
Committee
Assigned C & L sub: Subcommittee #1
legislature
Dec 31, 2017
Committee
Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
legislature
Dec 31, 2017
Introduced
Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/18 18100454D
legislature
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors