S-3575               _______________________________________________

                                                   SENATE BILL NO. 6375

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1990 Regular Session

By Senator Moore

Read first time 1/12/90 and referred to Committee on  Financial Institutions & Insurance.

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 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 a growing number of health care insurance policies limit where consumers may purchase prescription medicines.  This restricts the ability of consumers to freely choose where to purchase prescriptions and may impose hardships on some consumers.  The limitations typically require consumers to purchase drugs through the mail or at designated pharmacies.  Mail order prescriptions can result in delays in receiving needed medication.  The designation of pharmacies often requires consumers to break long-established relationships with neighborhood pharmacists who have knowledge of their prescription needs.

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, 1991, 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 or pharmacies or a designated mail order vendor.  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, 1991, 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 or pharmacies or a designated mail order vendor.  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, 1991, 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 or pharmacies or a designated mail order vendor.  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 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, 1991, 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 or pharmacies or a designated mail order vendor.  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.