S-0620.2/91 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5334
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 52nd Legislature 1991 Regular Session
By Senators Nelson, Murray, West, Johnson, Wojahn, Amondson, Niemi, L. Smith, Moore, Newhouse, Snyder, Gaspard, Williams, Conner, Rasmussen and Thorsness.
Read first time January 29, 1991. Referred to Committee on Health & Long‑Term Care.
AN ACT Relating to prescription medicine insurance coverage; adding a new section to chapter 48.20 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.21 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.44 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 48.46 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 41.05 RCW; and creating a new section.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that many health care insurance policies, that include prescription coverage, severely restrict the citizens' choice of available pharmacies. The legislature further finds that such restrictions infringe on the citizens' right to have their prescriptions filled at the pharmacy and by the pharmacist of their choice.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 48.20 RCW to read as follows:
Each disability insurance policy issued or renewed after January 1, 1992, that provides for payment of all or a portion of prescription medicine costs, or reimbursement therefor, may not limit purchase of prescription medicines to a designated pharmacy. The policy may not require the pharmacy patient to make a different or variable copayment or contribution, whether figured as a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of the cost, based on where or from whom the prescription medicines are purchased.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 48.21 RCW to read as follows:
Each group disability insurance policy issued or renewed after January 1, 1992, that provides for payment of all or a portion of prescription medicine costs, or reimbursement therefor, may not limit purchase of prescription medicines to a designated pharmacy. The policy may not require the pharmacy patient to make a different or variable copayment or contribution, whether figured as a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of the cost, based on where or from whom the prescription medicines are purchased.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 4. A new section is added to chapter 48.44 RCW to read as follows:
Each health care service contract issued or renewed after January 1, 1992, that provides for payment of all or a portion of prescription medicine costs, or reimbursement therefor, may not limit purchase of prescription medicines to a designated pharmacy. The contract may not require the pharmacy patient to make a different or variable copayment or contribution, whether figured as a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of the cost, based on where or from whom the prescription medicines are purchased.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 5. A new section is added to chapter 48.46 RCW to read as follows:
Each health maintenance agreement issued or renewed after January 1, 1992, that provides for payment of all or a portion of prescription medicine costs, or reimbursement therefor, may not limit purchase of prescription medicines to a designated pharmacy. The policy may not require the pharmacy patient to make a different or variable copayment or contribution, whether figured as a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of the cost, based on where or from whom the prescription medicines are purchased. This section does not apply to health maintenance organizations in which all pharmaceutical services are provided by employees of the health maintenance organization.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 6. A new section is added to chapter 41.05 RCW to read as follows:
Each health plan offered to public employees and their covered dependents under this chapter that is not subject to the provisions of Title 48 RCW and is established or renewed after January 1, 1992, that provides for payment of all or a portion of prescription medicine costs, or reimbursement therefor, may not limit purchase of prescription medicines to a designated pharmacy. The plan may not require the pharmacy patient to make a different or variable copayment or contribution, whether figured as a fixed dollar amount or a percentage of the cost, based on where or from whom the prescription medicines are purchased.