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4/9/2024
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Senate approves Murray bill limiting copays for diabetes supplies, equipment
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STATE HOUSE – The Senate today approved legislation sponsored by Sen. Melissa A. Murray to limit insured patients’ copays for supplies and equipment used to treat diabetes to $25 for a 30-day supply.
Like the 2021 state law – also sponsored by Senator Murray — that capped insulin copays at $40 a month, the legislation (2024-S 2082) would apply to private insurers, health maintenance organizations, nonprofit hospital service or medical service corporations and the state employee health insurance plans that cover such supplies. Under the bill, beginning Jan. 1 (or, for state employees, the next time the health plan contract is purchased or renewed by the state), copays for insulin administration and glucose monitoring supplies shall be capped at $25 for a 30-day supply, or per item when an item is intended to be used for longer than 30 days.
“Monitoring glucose and administering insulin are absolutely necessary for people living with diabetes. While the skyrocketing cost of insulin in recent years has been an important issue that has captured national attention, that is not the only cost that burdens those with diabetes. Supplies like testing strips, blood sugar meters, and insulin pumps and other items that are crucial for diabetes maintenance can add up and become cost prohibitive for people who desperately need them. When patients can’t afford the equipment for preventative maintenance, they have no choice but to go without, sometimes with fatal consequences,” said Senator Murray (D-Dist. 24, Woonsocket, North Smithfield).
The bill, which takes effect Jan. 1, is cosponsored by Senators Pamela J. Lauria (D-Dist. 32, Barrington, Bristol, East Providence), Bridget Valverde (D-Dist. 35, North Kingstown, East Greenwich, South Kingstown), Alana M. DiMario (D-Dist. 36, Narragansett, North Kingstown, New Shoreham), Dawn Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown), Samuel W. Bell (D-Dist. 5, Providence), Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) and Jacob Bissaillon (D-Dist. 1, Providence).
The bill, which the Senate approved last year as well, now goes to the House of Representatives, where House Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy (D-Dist. 38, Hopkinton, Westerly) is sponsoring a companion bill (2024-H 7364).
For more information, contact:
Meredyth R. Whitty, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-1923
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