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Committee hears SB 5594 to let pharmacists substitute biosimilars; advocates urge patient-cost protections
Summary
The Health Care and Wellness Committee heard testimony on SB 5594 to add biosimilars to substitution rules and pharmacy-utilization standards. Proponents said biosimilars lower costs; patient advocates warned point-of-sale implementation could raise out-of-pocket costs without formulary changes. No vote was taken.
The Health Care and Wellness Committee heard staff and public testimony on Senate Bill 5594 on Feb. 10, a proposal to add biosimilars to the state’s drug-substitution rules and to promote biosimilar utilization in exchange plans.
Committee staff described the bill as allowing pharmacists to substitute therapeutically equivalent biosimilars unless a prescriber marks the prescription 'do not substitute' and as permitting health carriers to require a biosimilar trial prior to covering a branded biological product beginning Jan. 1, 2027. The staff summary also said state-purchased qualified health plans on the exchange must comply with Health Care Authority requirements to expand pharmacy-efficiency measures, now…
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