Bill Text: NJ S3111 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Requires health benefits coverage for synchronization of prescribed medications under certain circumstances.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-12-17 - Substituted by A3331 (1R) [S3111 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-S3111-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Senator NIA H. GILL
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator T.Kean
SYNOPSIS
Requires health benefits coverage for synchronization of prescribed medications under certain circumstances.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Senate Commerce Committee on October 19, 2015, with amendments.
An Act concerning health benefits coverage for synchronization of prescribed medications and supplementing various parts of the statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Every group or individual hospital service corporation contract delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State on or after the effective date of this act, which provides benefits for pharmacy services, prescription drugs, or for participation in a prescription drug plan shall 1, on at least one occasion per year for each covered person1:
(1) apply a prorated daily cost-sharing rate to prescriptions that are dispensed by a network pharmacy for less than a 30 days' supply if the prescriber or pharmacist indicates the fill or refill is in the best interest of the covered person or is for the purpose of synchronizing the covered person's chronic medications;
(2) provide coverage for a drug prescribed for the treatment of a chronic illness dispensed in accordance with a plan among the covered person, the prescriber and the pharmacist to synchronize the refilling of multiple prescriptions for the covered person; and
(3) determine dispensing fees based exclusively on the total number of prescriptions dispensed; dispensing fees shall not be prorated or based on the number of the days' supply of medication prescribed or dispensed.
b. This section shall apply to all contracts in which the hospital service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
1c. This section shall not apply to prescriptions for opioid analgesics. "Opioid analgesic" means a drug in the opioid analgesic drug class prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain or other conditions, whether in immediate release or extended release form, and whether or not combined with other drug substances to form a single drug product or dosage form.1
2. a. Every group or individual medical service corporation contract delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State on or after the effective date of this act, which provides benefits for pharmacy services, prescription drugs, or for participation in a prescription drug plan, shall 1, on at least one occasion per year for each covered person1:
(1) apply a prorated daily cost-sharing rate to prescriptions that are dispensed by a network pharmacy for less than a 30 days' supply if the prescriber or pharmacist indicates the fill or refill is in the best interest of the covered person or is for the purpose of synchronizing the covered person's chronic medications;
(2) provide coverage for a drug prescribed for the treatment of a chronic illness dispensed in accordance with a plan among the covered person, the prescriber and the pharmacist to synchronize the refilling of multiple prescriptions for the covered person; and
(3) determine dispensing fees based exclusively on the total number of prescriptions dispensed; dispensing fees shall not be prorated or based on the number of the days' supply of medication prescribed or dispensed.
b. This section shall apply to all contracts in which the medical service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
1c. This section shall not apply to prescriptions for opioid analgesics. "Opioid analgesic" means a drug in the opioid analgesic drug class prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain or other conditions, whether in immediate release or extended release form, and whether or not combined with other drug substances to form a single drug product or dosage form.1
3. a. Every group or individual health service corporation contract delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State on or after the effective date of this act, which provides benefits for pharmacy services, prescription drugs, or for participation in a prescription drug plan, shall 1, on at least one occasion per year for each covered person1:
(1) apply a prorated daily cost-sharing rate to prescriptions that are dispensed by a network pharmacy for less than a 30 days' supply if the prescriber or pharmacist indicates the fill or refill is in the best interest of the covered person or is for the purpose of synchronizing the covered person's chronic medications;
(2) provide coverage for a drug prescribed for the treatment of a chronic illness dispensed in accordance with a plan among the covered person, the prescriber and the pharmacist to synchronize the refilling of multiple prescriptions for the covered person; and
(3) determine dispensing fees based exclusively on the total number of prescriptions dispensed; dispensing fees shall not be prorated or based on the number of the days' supply of medication prescribed or dispensed.
b. This section shall apply to all contracts in which the health service corporation has reserved the right to change the premium.
1c. This section shall not apply to prescriptions for opioid analgesics. "Opioid analgesic" means a drug in the opioid analgesic drug class prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain or other conditions, whether in immediate release or extended release form, and whether or not combined with other drug substances to form a single drug product or dosage form.1
4. a. Every individual health insurance policy or contract delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State on or after the effective date of this act, which provides benefits for pharmacy services, prescription drugs, or for participation in a prescription drug plan, shall 1, on at least one occasion per year for each covered person1:
(1) apply a prorated daily cost-sharing rate to prescriptions that are dispensed by a network pharmacy for less than a 30 days' supply if the prescriber or pharmacist indicates the fill or refill is in the best interest of the covered person or is for the purpose of synchronizing the covered person's chronic medications;
(2) provide coverage for a drug prescribed for the treatment of a chronic illness dispensed in accordance with a plan among the covered person, the prescriber and the pharmacist to synchronize the refilling of multiple prescriptions for the covered person; and
(3) determine dispensing fees based exclusively on the total number of prescriptions dispensed; dispensing fees shall not be prorated or based on the number of the days' supply of medication prescribed or dispensed.
b. This section shall apply to all policies in which the insurer has reserved the right to change the premium.
1c. This section shall not apply to prescriptions for opioid analgesics. "Opioid analgesic" means a drug in the opioid analgesic drug class prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain or other conditions, whether in immediate release or extended release form, and whether or not combined with other drug substances to form a single drug product or dosage form.1
5. a. Every group health insurance policy or contract delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State, or approved for issuance or renewal in this State on or after the effective date of this act, which provides benefits for pharmacy services, prescription drugs, or for participation in a prescription drug plan, shall 1, on at least one occasion per year for each covered person1:
(1) apply a prorated daily cost-sharing rate to prescriptions that are dispensed by a network pharmacy for less than a 30 days' supply if the prescriber or pharmacist indicates the fill or refill is in the best interest of the covered person or is for the purpose of synchronizing the covered person's chronic medications;
(2) provide coverage for a drug prescribed for the treatment of a chronic illness dispensed in accordance with a plan among the covered person, the prescriber and the pharmacist to synchronize the refilling of multiple prescriptions for the covered person; and
(3) determine dispensing fees based exclusively on the total number of prescriptions dispensed; dispensing fees shall not be prorated or based on the number of the days' supply of medication prescribed or dispensed.
b. This section shall apply to all policies in which the insurer has reserved the right to change the premium.
1c. This section shall not apply to prescriptions for opioid analgesics. "Opioid analgesic" means a drug in the opioid analgesic drug class prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain or other conditions, whether in immediate release or extended release form, and whether or not combined with other drug substances to form a single drug product or dosage form.1
6. a. Every certificate of authority to establish and operate a health maintenance organization in this State issued, continued or renewed in this State, or approved for issuance, continuation or renewal in this State on or after the effective date of this act, which provides benefits for pharmacy services, prescription drugs, or for participation in a prescription drug plan, shall 1, on at least one occasion per year for each covered person1:
(1) apply a prorated daily cost-sharing rate to prescriptions that are dispensed by a network pharmacy for less than a 30 days' supply if the prescriber or pharmacist indicates the fill or refill is in the best interest of the covered person or is for the purpose of synchronizing the covered person's chronic medications;
(2) provide coverage for a drug prescribed for the treatment of a chronic illness dispensed in accordance with a plan among the covered person, the prescriber and the pharmacist to synchronize the refilling of multiple prescriptions for the covered person; and
(3) determine dispensing fees based exclusively on the total number of prescriptions dispensed; dispensing fees shall not be prorated or based on the number of the days' supply of medication prescribed or dispensed.
b. This section shall apply to all enrollee agreements in which the health maintenance organization has reserved the right to change the schedule of charges.
1c. This section shall not apply to prescriptions for opioid analgesics. "Opioid analgesic" means a drug in the opioid analgesic drug class prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain or other conditions, whether in immediate release or extended release form, and whether or not combined with other drug substances to form a single drug product or dosage form.1
7. a. Every individual health benefits plan delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1992, c.161 (C.17B:27A-2 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State on or after the effective date of this act, which provides benefits for pharmacy services, prescription drugs, or for participation in a prescription drug plan, shall 1, on at least one occasion per year for each covered person1:
(1) apply a prorated daily cost-sharing rate to prescriptions that are dispensed by a network pharmacy for less than a 30 days' supply if the prescriber or pharmacist indicates the fill or refill is in the best interest of the covered person or is for the purpose of synchronizing the covered person's chronic medications;
(2) provide coverage for a drug prescribed for the treatment of a chronic illness dispensed in accordance with a plan among the covered person, the prescriber and the pharmacist to synchronize the refilling of multiple prescriptions for the covered person; and
(3) determine dispensing fees based exclusively on the total number of prescriptions dispensed; dispensing fees shall not be prorated or based on the number of the days' supply of medication prescribed or dispensed.
b. This section shall apply to all health benefits plans in which the carrier has reserved the right to change the premium.
1c. This section shall not apply to prescriptions for opioid analgesics. "Opioid analgesic" means a drug in the opioid analgesic drug class prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain or other conditions, whether in immediate release or extended release form, and whether or not combined with other drug substances to form a single drug product or dosage form.1
8. a. Every small employer health benefits plan delivered, issued, executed or renewed in this State pursuant to P.L.1992, c.162 (C.17B:27A-17 et seq.), or approved for issuance or renewal in this State on or after the effective date of this act, which provides benefits for pharmacy services, prescription drugs, or for participation in a prescription drug plan, shall 1, on at least one occasion per year for each covered person1:
(1) apply a prorated daily cost-sharing rate to prescriptions that are dispensed by a network pharmacy for less than a 30 days' supply if the prescriber or pharmacist indicates the fill or refill is in the best interest of the covered person or is for the purpose of synchronizing the covered person's chronic medications;
(2) provide coverage for a drug prescribed for the treatment of a chronic illness dispensed in accordance with a plan among the covered person, the prescriber and the pharmacist to synchronize the refilling of multiple prescriptions for the covered person; and
(3) determine dispensing fees based exclusively on the total number of prescriptions dispensed; dispensing fees shall not be prorated or based on the number of the days' supply of medication prescribed or dispensed.
b. This section shall apply to all health benefits plans in which the carrier has reserved the right to change the premium.
1c. This section shall not apply to prescriptions for opioid analgesics. "Opioid analgesic" means a drug in the opioid analgesic drug class prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain or other conditions, whether in immediate release or extended release form, and whether or not combined with other drug substances to form a single drug product or dosage form.1
9. The State Health Benefits Commission shall ensure that every contract under the State Health Benefits Program purchased on or after the effective date of this act, which provides benefits for pharmacy services, prescription drugs, or for participation in a prescription drug plan, shall 1, on at least one occasion per year for each covered person1:
(1) apply a prorated daily cost-sharing rate to prescriptions that are dispensed by a network pharmacy for less than a 30 days' supply if the prescriber or pharmacist indicates the fill or refill is in the best interest of the covered person or is for the purpose of synchronizing the covered person's chronic medications;
(2) provide coverage for a drug prescribed for the treatment of a chronic illness dispensed in accordance with a plan among the covered person, the prescriber and the pharmacist to synchronize the refilling of multiple prescriptions for the covered person; and
(3) determine dispensing fees based exclusively on the total number of prescriptions dispensed; dispensing fees shall not be prorated or based on the number of the days' supply of medication prescribed or dispensed.
1This section shall not apply to prescriptions for opioid analgesics. "Opioid analgesic" means a drug in the opioid analgesic drug class prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain or other conditions, whether in immediate release or extended release form, and whether or not combined with other drug substances to form a single drug product or dosage form.1
10. The School Employees' Health Benefits Commission shall ensure that every contract under the School Employees' Health Benefits Program purchased on or after the effective date of this act, which provides benefits for pharmacy services, prescription drugs, or for participation in a prescription drug plan, shall 1, on at least one occasion per year for each covered person1:
(1) apply a prorated daily cost-sharing rate to prescriptions that are dispensed by a network pharmacy for less than a 30 days' supply if the prescriber or pharmacist indicates the fill or refill is in the best interest of the covered person or is for the purpose of synchronizing the covered person's chronic medications;
(2) provide coverage for a drug prescribed for the treatment of a chronic illness dispensed in accordance with a plan among the covered person, the prescriber and the pharmacist to synchronize the refilling of multiple prescriptions for the covered person; and
(3) determine dispensing fees based exclusively on the total number of prescriptions dispensed; dispensing fees shall not be prorated or based on the number of the days' supply of medication prescribed or dispensed.
1This section shall not apply to prescriptions for opioid analgesics. "Opioid analgesic" means a drug in the opioid analgesic drug class prescribed to treat moderate to severe pain or other conditions, whether in immediate release or extended release form, and whether or not combined with other drug substances to form a single drug product or dosage form.1
11. This act shall take effect on the 180th day next following enactment.
