House Bill (HB) 479, a bill that regulates pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and requires disclosure to patients of drug price information, passed out of the House Government Accountability and Oversight Committee on May 22. The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians strongly supports the bill.
HB 479, specifically:
- Prohibits a health plan or PBM from directing a pharmacy to charge a patient an amount greater than the pharmacy’s cash price or the net reimbursement to the pharmacy. This ensures that regardless of any co-pay gimmicks, the patient will pay the lowest possible amount at the pharmacy counter.
- Prohibits a health plan or PBM from forcing a pharmacist to remain silent when it comes to the financial details and options when it comes to their patients’ medications.
For more information on the legislation, along with a slew of media links, visit the Ohio Pharmacists Association’s website.
For more information on the edict from the Ohio Department of Insurance that pushed to eliminate gag orders, visit the Ohio Pharmacists Association’s website.