Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Committee hears LB158 to stop copay accumulators for patients with high‑cost drugs
Summary
Sen. Dave Wardekemper introduced LB158 to require insurers to count third‑party copay assistance toward patients' deductibles and out‑of‑pocket limits; families and bleeding‑disorder advocates urged passage, while insurers warned of higher premiums and cited federal constraints.
Senator Dave Wardekamper presented LB158 at a public hearing of the Banking, Commerce and Insurance Committee, seeking to prohibit health insurers from excluding third‑party copay assistance from a patient’s deductible and out‑of‑pocket accumulation. Supporters said the practice of so‑called "accumulator adjustment" programs can leave patients with chronic or rare conditions unable to afford ongoing treatment.
Wardekamper told the committee the policy primarily affects Nebraskans with high‑cost chronic and rare diseases and described common consequences: skipped doses, abandoned treatment and increased emergency care. "This primarily affects Nebraskans with chronic and rare diseases who already face significant health challenges and high treatment costs," he said.
Family members and national…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
