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Committee introduces bill to bar insurer 'co‑pay accumulator' practices
Summary
Rep. David Cannon introduced RS 32178, a proposal to require insurers to count third‑party payments — including manufacturer coupons and assistance — toward patients' copayments and out‑of‑pocket maximums; committee voted to introduce the request and refer it to a full hearing.
Representative David Cannon introduced a legislative service request, RS 32178, asking the House Health and Welfare Committee to consider outlawing so‑called co‑pay accumulator programs used by some insurers.
The measure seeks to require insurers to apply third‑party payments — for example, manufacturer coupons or assistance that pay part of a patient’s prescription cost — toward the patient’s copayment and out‑of‑pocket maximums. Representative Cannon said the bill grew out of constituent concerns about families surprised when assistance ended and insurers did not credit those payments toward family cost sharing.
“This is a piece of legislation that would in essence outlaw co‑pay accumulators and say that whether or not the patient is the one paying for the medication or whether it comes from a third party, that insurance companies have to give the patient credit for those payments toward co‑pays and out‑of‑pocket maximums,” Cannon said.
Representative Redmond moved to introduce RS 32178; the committee voiced its approval and the chair recorded an affirmative vote. Committee members did not take final action on policy; the introduction means the measure will be scheduled for a full hearing and bill drafting for consideration.
The committee did not adopt text at the introduction: Representative Cannon asked simply to have the RS introduced so the full public hearing and drafting process could proceed. No statutory citations were offered on the record beyond the general description of insurer billing practice, and the committee did not vote on final statutory language.
A hearing date and any potential amendments will be set once the RS is drafted and placed on the committee calendar.
