S-1649.1
SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5554
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State of Washington | 65th Legislature | 2017 Regular Session |
By Senate Health Care (originally sponsored by Senators Hobbs, Rivers, Cleveland, Fain, Keiser, and Conway)
READ FIRST TIME 02/17/17.
AN ACT Relating to private health plan coverage of contraceptives; adding a new section to chapter
48.43 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 significant percentage of pregnancies are unintended and could be averted with broader access to health care and effective contraception. Research suggests that moving from twenty-eight day dispensing of contraceptive drugs to twelve-month dispensing improves adherence to maintenance of the drugs and effective use of the contraceptives. It is therefore the intent of the legislature to require private health insurers to require dispensing of contraceptive drugs with up to a twelve-month supply provided at one time.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 48.43 RCW to read as follows:
(1) A health benefit plan issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2018, that includes coverage for contraceptive drugs must provide reimbursement for a twelve-month refill of contraceptive drugs obtained at one time by the enrollee, unless the enrollee requests a smaller supply or the prescribing provider instructs that the enrollee must receive a smaller supply. The health plan must allow enrollees to receive the contraceptive drugs on-site at the provider's office, if available. Any dispensing practices required by the plan must follow clinical guidelines for appropriate prescribing and dispensing to ensure the health of the patient while maximizing access to effective contraceptive drugs. Nothing shall prohibit a health benefit plan from placing a limit on refills that may be obtained in the last quarter of the plan year and after a full year dispense has already been filled.
(2) For purposes of this section, "contraceptive drugs" means all drugs approved by the United States food and drug administration that are used to prevent pregnancy, including, but not limited to, hormonal drugs administered orally, transdermally, and intravaginally.
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