Committee advances bill to remove cost sharing for cholesterol-lowering drugs

The committee gave a due-pass recommendation to the double committee substitute for Senate Bill 443 by a 7–3 recorded vote. The measure would eliminate cost sharing for cholesterol-lowering drugs, including generic statins and, for the small percentage of patients not managed by statins, second-line agents such as PCSK9 inhibitors.

Senator Hickey outlined clinical and economic rationale: statins are inexpensive generics (sponsor referenced roughly 50 cents per day), reduce LDL for most patients and the higher-cost second-line agents have dropped substantially in price in recent years. "About 1 to 2 percent of patients are unresponsive or have complications to the statins and therefore require the second line drug," the sponsor said, adding that competition has reduced PCSK9 costs to about $100 per month in some cases.

Representative Nicole Chavez and others asked questions about the distribution of formulary tiers and how many patients would be affected; the sponsor cited an IBAC comment that the second-line population is small (about 1–2 percent). Representative Chavez expressed concern about premium impacts and cited uncertainty around an estimate of increased premiums.

Representative E. Chavez moved the due-pass recommendation and Representative Frei seconded. The committee recorded a 7–3 roll-call vote in favor.

Supporters framed the measure as preventive spending that reduces cardiovascular events; critics on the committee asked for fiscal clarity on premium impacts and utilization.