Critical Moment for Utahns With Chronic Illnesses: S.B. 184, the Legislation Needed to Stop Unfair Copay Accumulator Policies, Heads to the Business and Labor Committee
Ark Founder and CEO Rebecca Yates reported Friday from the Utah State Capitol that S.B. 184 – Prescription Cost Amendments, was assigned to the Business and Labor committee in the house. That means it’s crucial to reach out to your representative to ask them to please support this important legislation.
Under current law, insurance companies are permitted to use copay accumulator adjustment policies to exclude copay payments/assistance provided by non-profits and pharmaceutical companies, so that these payments do not count towards a patient’s deductible or out-of-pocket-maximum. This leads to skyrocketing medical bills, and in some cases, patients not being able to afford needed medication.
Yates added, “Trying to address the cost of pharmaceuticals by adding financial burdens to our disabled communities is not only illogical, but also immoral. If they want to fix the cost of care and medications, they need to do it directly, not by trying to recoup it on the backs of those already burdened with poor health.”
Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo, is the chief sponsor of S.B. 184 – Prescription Cost Amendments, which would require an insurer to calculate any amounts paid on behalf of an individual towards the individual’s cost sharing requirement, and would require a pharmacy benefit manager to calculate any amounts paid on behalf of an individual towards the individual’s cost sharing requirement.
Unfortunately, the bill does have opponents who are lobbying against it. S.B. 184 will likely be voted on by Tuesday, 2/28, so it’s important to reach out now to one of the representatives on the Business and Labor Committee:
Rep. A. Cory Maloy (R), Chair (Lehi)
corymaloy@le.utah.gov
801-477-0019
Rep. Stephen L. Whyte (R), Vice Chair (Mapleton)
swhyte@le.utah.gov
385-271-8435
Rep. Carl R. Albrecht (R) (Richfield)
carlalbrecht@le.utah.gov
435-979-6578
Rep. Brady Brammer (R) (Pleasant Grove)
bbrammer@le.utah.gov
801-538-1029
Rep. Walt Brooks (R) (St. George)
wbrooks@le.utah.gov
435-817-3530
Rep. Jefferson S. Burton (R) (Spanish Fork)
jburton@le.utah.gov
385-225-0575
Rep. James A. Dunnigan (R)
jdunnigan@le.utah.gov
801-538-1029
Rep. Jon Hawkins (R) (Pleasant Grove)
jhawkins@le.utah.gov
801-368-2534
Rep. Brian S. King (D) (Salt Lake City)
briansking@le.utah.gov
801-560-0769
Rep. Ashlee Matthews (D) (SLC)
amatthews@le.utah.gov
385-264-2024
Rep. Calvin R. Musselman (R) (West Haven)
cmusselman@le.utah.gov
801-941-6188
Rep. Thomas W. Peterson (R) (Brigham City)
tpeterson@le.utah.gov
435-720-3516
Rep. Mike Schultz (R) (Hooper)
mikeschultz@le.utah.gov
801-859-7713
Rep. Norman K Thurston (R) (Provo)
normthurston@le.utah.gov
801-477-5348
Rep. Ryan D. Wilcox (R) (North Ogden)
ryanwilcox@le.utah.gov
385-600-3306
Additional info
Below is an excellent op-ed authored by Jami Curtis that was included in Utah Policy today on this topic.
