SLS 16RS-414 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 258
BY SENATOR LUNEAU
HEALTH/ACC INSURANCE. Provides for coverage for refills for prescription eye drops.
(8/1/16)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 22:997.1, relative to the refilling of topical ophthalmic prescriptions; to
3 require coverage for refills under certain circumstances; and to provide for related
4 matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 22:997.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง997.1. Topical ophthalmic prescriptions; coverage for refills
8 A. Any health, hospital, or medical expense insurance policy, hospital or
9 medical service contract, employee welfare benefit plan, health and accident
10 insurance policy, or any other insurance contract of this type, including a group
11 insurance plan, and a self-insurance plan that provides medical and surgical
12 benefits, which is delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in this state on or
13 after August 1, 2016, that provides coverage for topical ophthalmic
14 prescriptions, shall not deny coverage for refills under the following
15 circumstances:
16 (1) The refill is requested by the insured for a thirty-day supply, between
17 twenty-one and thirty days from the later of either:
Page 1 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 258
SLS 16RS-414 ORIGINAL
1 (a) The original date the prescription was distributed to the insured.
2 (b) The date the most recent refill was distributed to the insured.
3 (2) For a sixty day supply, between forty-two and sixty days from the
4 later of either:
5 (a) The original date the prescription was distributed to the insured.
6 (b) The date the most recent refill was distributed to the insured.
7 (3) For a ninety day supply, between sixty-three and ninety days from the
8 later of either:
9 (a) The original date the prescription was distributed to the insured.
10 (b) The date the most recent refill was distributed to the insured.
11 B. The prescriber shall indicate on the original prescription that
12 additional quantities are necessary. However, the original prescription shall not
13 exceed the number of additional quantities necessary for treatment of the
14 medical condition for which the original prescription was issued.
15 C. The provisions of this Section shall, to the extent practicable, be
16 limited in quantity so as not to exceed the remaining dosage initially approved
17 for coverage, provided that such limited refilling shall not limit or restrict
18 coverage with regard to any previously or subsequently approved topical
19 ophthalmic prescription and shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the
20 insurance plan otherwise applicable to this coverage.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Cooper.
DIGEST
SB 258 Original 2016 Regular Session Luneau
Proposed law requires insurance plan coverage for the costs of refilling a topical ophthalmic
prescription under certain circumstances.
Proposed law requires the prescriber to indicate on the original prescription that additional
quantities are necessary. Requires the original prescription not exceed the number of
additional quantities needed for treatment.
Proposed law limits the refills to a quantity not to exceed the remaining dosage initially
approved for coverage, provided the limited refills do not limit or restrict coverage with
regard to any previously or subsequently approved topical ophthalmic prescription.
Page 2 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 258
SLS 16RS-414 ORIGINAL
Effective August 1, 2016.
(Adds R.S. 22:997.1)
Page 3 of 3
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.