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Committee votes to support bill banning step therapy, capping insulin costs; members raise pharmacy reimbursement concerns
Summary
The committee voted to support Senate Bill 40, which would prohibit insurers from requiring step therapy for insulin and would cap the cost of a 30‑day supply; members approved a motion to support, but a member flagged potential cost-shifting to pharmacies.
The Legislation and Regulation Committee voted to support Senate Bill 40, a measure that would prohibit a health care service plan or insurer from imposing step therapy as a prerequisite to insulin coverage and that would cap the cost of a 30‑day insulin supply.
Trevor Chandler moved that the committee support SB 40; Jessie Crowley seconded the motion. The committee took a roll-call vote; members present — Chandler, KK John, Maria Serpa and Nicole Tibo — voted yes and the motion passed. The measure has been referred to the Assembly Health Committee for further consideration.
Nicole Tibo, a committee member, raised a financial concern before the vote: “I just wanna make sure that there's no way that the insurance companies can then pass this cost onto the pharmacy. Can overcharge the pharmacy, make us significantly lose money, as a result of the limit in price.” The committee discussed that concern and noted it as a point for staff and legislative counsel to monitor as the bill advances.
Committee materials describe SB 40 as also establishing a cap on the cost of a 30‑day insulin supply; members framed the bill as a patient-access and affordability measure while asking staff to flag possible unintended effects on pharmacy reimbursement. Public comment was not offered on this item during the recorded portion of the meeting.
