HB 338-FN - AS INTRODUCED

 

 

2023 SESSION

23-0066

05/04

 

HOUSE BILL 338-FN

 

AN ACT relative to prescription drug assistance for individuals with diabetes.

 

SPONSORS: Rep. Adjutant, Graf. 16; Rep. Bouchard, Hills. 24; Rep. Schuett, Merr. 12; Rep. D. Fox, Ches. 2; Rep. Cormen, Graf. 15; Rep. Ellison, Merr. 28; Rep. Newell, Ches. 4; Sen. Prentiss, Dist 5; Sen. Altschiller, Dist 24

 

COMMITTEE: Health, Human Services and Elderly Affairs

 

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ANALYSIS

 

This bill expands the New Hampshire Rx advantage program to include insulin prescription assistance for individuals with diabetes.

 

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

23-0066

05/04

 

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

 

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Three

 

AN ACT relative to prescription drug assistance for individuals with diabetes.

 

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

 

1  New Paragraph; New Hampshire Rx Advantage Program; Insulin Prescriptions for Individuals with Diabetes.  Amend RSA 161-L:2 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:

IV.  The program shall include prescription drug assistance for individuals diagnosed with diabetes types 1 and 2.  Qualified individuals shall be able to purchase a 30-day supply of insulin for not more than $30 from participating retail pharmacies. The maximum $30 copayment for each 30-day supply of insulin shall apply when an original prescription is dispensed as well as when refills of the prescription are dispensed, including early refills.  

2  New Paragraph; New Hampshire Rx Advantage Program; Rulemaking; Diabetes Insulin Assistance.  Amend RSA 161-L:6 by inserting after paragraph V the following new paragraph:

VI.  Administration of the prescription drug assistance program for individuals with diabetes under RSA 161-L:2, IV, including eligibility criteria, program enrollment, and pharmacy rebate and reimbursement procedures.

3  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect January 1, 2024.

 

LBA

23-0066

1/6/23

 

HB 338-FN- FISCAL NOTE

AS INTRODUCED

 

AN ACT relative to prescription drug assistance for individuals with diabetes.

 

FISCAL IMPACT:      [ X ] State              [    ] County               [    ] Local              [    ] None

 

 

 

Estimated Increase / (Decrease)

STATE:

FY 2023

FY 2024

FY 2025

FY 2026

   Appropriation

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Revenue

$0

$0

$0

$0

   Expenditures

$0

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Indeterminable Increase

Funding Source:

  [ X ] General            [    ] Education            [    ] Highway           [ X ] Other - Federal Funds

 

METHODOLOGY:

This bill adds insulin prescription assistance for individuals with diabetes under the New Hampshire Rx Advantage Program.  The Department of Health and Human Services assumes the bill will apply to individuals who meet the definition of “qualified resident” as defined in RSA 161-L:1, X.  Presumably, individuals who receive coverage through Medicaid will not utilize this benefit given that Medicaid insulin coverage is a $1 co-pay for up to a 90-day supply. The Department does not have data to capture how many individuals may meet the definition of “qualified resident.”

 

The Department states additional funding will be necessary to implement the program since the New Hampshire Rx Advantage Program is not currently operational. The Department notes that while the program was established in 2007, it was never fully stood up due to insufficient appropriations. The Department has not supplied a dollar amount that would be sufficient to fund the program or the benefit created by this bill.

 

AGENCIES CONTACTED:

Department of Health and Human Services