2023 -- S 0575 SUBSTITUTE A
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LC001879/SUB A
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S TATE OF RHODE IS LAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023
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A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES
Introduced By: Senators Lauria, Miller, Ujifusa, Bell, Murray, Euer, Kallman, Lawson,
DiMario, and Valverde
Date Introduced: March 07, 2023
Referred To: Senate Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance 1
Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 2
27-18-91. Epinephrine injectors. 3
(a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that epinephrine cartridges and injectors 4
are life-saving devices which must be administered quickly to be effective. Such administration is 5
often done by persons who are not health care professionals, and is done in an emergency situation. 6
Accordingly, it is in the best interests of the people of the state to promote the widespread 7
availability of epinephrine cartridges and injectors. 8
(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides 9
prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state 10
on or after January 1, 2025, shall provide coverage for at least one type of epinephrine auto-injectors 11
and cartridges. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be met, to 12
obtain a two (2) pack of the epinephrine auto-injectors or cartridges covered by the contract, plan, 13
or policy, once every twelve (12) month plan year. A deductible may be applied to health plans that 14
are paired with federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S Code § 223. Nothing 15
in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to January 1, 2025. 16
SECTION 2. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service 17
Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 18
27-19-83. Epinephrine injectors. 19
LC001879/SUB A - Page 2 of 4
(a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that epinephrine cartridges and injectors 1
are life-saving devices which must be administered quickly to be effective. Such administration is 2
often done by persons who are not health care professionals, and is done in an emergency situation. 3
Accordingly, it is in the best interests of the people of the state to promote the widespread 4
availability of epinephrine cartridges and injectors. 5
(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides 6
prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state 7
on or after January 1, 2025, shall provide coverage for at least one type of epinephrine auto-injectors 8
and cartridges. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be met, to 9
obtain a two (2) pack of the epinephrine auto-injectors or cartridges covered by the contract, plan, 10
or policy, once every twelve (12) month plan year. A deductible may be applied to health plans that 11
are paired with federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S Code § 223. Nothing 12
in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to January 1, 2025. 13
SECTION 3. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service 14
Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 15
27-20-79. Epinephrine injectors. 16
(a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that epinephrine cartridges and injectors 17
are life-saving devices which must be administered quickly to be effective. Such administration is 18
often done by persons who are not health care professionals, and is done in an emergency situation. 19
Accordingly, it is in the best interests of the people of the state to promote the widespread 20
availability of epinephrine cartridges and injectors. 21
(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides 22
prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state 23
on or after January 1, 2025, shall provide coverage for at least one type of epinephrine auto-injectors 24
and cartridges. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be met, to 25
obtain a two (2) pack of the epinephrine auto-injectors or cartridges covered by the contract, plan, 26
or policy, once every twelve (12) month plan year. A deductible may be applied to health plans that 27
are paired with federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S Code § 223. Nothing 28
in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to January 1, 2025. 29
SECTION 4. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance 30
Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 31
27-41-96. Epinephrine injectors. 32
(a) The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that epinephrine cartridges and injectors 33
are life-saving devices which must be administered quickly to be effective. Such administration is 34
LC001879/SUB A - Page 3 of 4
often done by persons who are not health care professionals, and is done in an emergency situation. 1
Accordingly, it is in the best interests of the people of the state to promote the widespread 2
availability of epinephrine cartridges and injectors. 3
(b) Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides 4
prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state 5
on or after January 1, 2025, shall provide coverage for at least one type of epinephrine auto-injectors 6
and cartridges. There shall be no copayment required, and no deductible shall need to be met, to 7
obtain a two (2) pack of the epinephrine auto-injectors or cartridges covered by the contract, plan, 8
or policy, once every twelve (12) month plan year. A deductible may be applied to health plans that 9
are paired with federally qualified health savings account pursuant to 26 U.S Code § 223. Nothing 10
in this section would prohibit a health plan from implementing this benefit prior to January 1, 2025. 11
SECTION 5. This act shall take effect upon passage. 12
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LC001879/SUB A - Page 4 of 4
EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES
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This act would require group health plans and health insurance issuers that provide 1
prescription benefits to cover at least one type of prescribed epinephrine auto-injectors and 2
cartridges. No copayment or deductible would be required to obtain prescribed epinephrine 3
injectors or cartridges. 4
This act would take effect upon passage. 5
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LC001879/SUB A
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