Rhode Island 2025 Regular Session

Rhode Island House Bill H5173 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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5	5	2025 -- H 5173
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7	7	LC000530
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9	9	S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
10	10	IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
11	11	JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025
12	12	____________
13	13
14	14	A N A C T
15	15	RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES
16	16	Introduced By: Representatives McGaw, Shekarchi, Hull, Craven, Corvese, J. Lombardi,
17	17	Kazarian, Diaz, Donovan, and Spears
18	18	Date Introduced: January 24, 2025
19	19	Referred To: House Health & Human Services
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22	22	It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
23	23	SECTION 1. Findings of fact 1
24	24	The Rhode Island general assembly recognizes that glucagon auto-injectors are life-saving 2
25	25	medications, that must be administered quickly to be effective. Such administration is often done 3
26	26	by persons who are not health care professionals, and is done in an emergency situation. 4
27	27	Accordingly, it is in the best interests of the people of the state to promote the widespread 5
28	28	availability of glucagon, that does not require reconstitution. Hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose, 6
29	29	is a barrier to diabetes control, leads to worse clinical outcomes, stress, increased cost of care and 7
30	30	polypharmacy. For unconscious patients, and those unable to ingest oral glucose, glucagon in the 8
31	31	ambulatory setting is indicated, but often underutilized, due to excessive cost. 9
32	32	SECTION 2. Chapter 27-18 of the General Laws entitled "Accident and Sickness Insurance 10
33	33	Policies" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 11
34	34	27-18-95. Glucagon hypoglycemia medications.. 12
35	35	Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides 13
36	36	prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state 14
37	37	on or after January 1, 2026, shall provide coverage for at least one type of glucagon auto-injector, 15
38	38	nasal spray or formulation not requiring reconstitution. There shall be no copayment required and 16
39	39	no deductible shall need to be met, to obtain two (2) glucagon auto-injectors, nasal spray or non- 17
40	40	reconstituted formulation covered by the contract, plan, or policy, every twelve (12) month plan 18
41	41	year. A deductible may be applied to health plans that are paired with federally qualified health 19
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45	45	savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C § 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan 1
46	46	from implementing this benefit prior to January 1. 2026. 2
47	47	SECTION 3. Chapter 27-19 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Hospital Service 3
48	48	Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 4
49	49	27-19-87. Glucagon hypoglycemia medications.. 5
50	50	Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides 6
51	51	prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state 7
52	52	on or after January 1, 2026, shall provide coverage for at least one type of glucagon auto-injector, 8
53	53	nasal spray or formulation not requiring reconstitution. There shall be no copayment required and 9
54	54	no deductible shall need to be met, to obtain two (2) glucagon auto-injectors, nasal spray or non- 10
55	55	reconstituted formulation covered by the contract, plan, or policy, every twelve (12) month plan 11
56	56	year. A deductible may be applied to health plans that are paired with federally qualified health 12
57	57	savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C § 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan 13
58	58	from implementing this benefit prior to January 1. 2026. 14
59	59	SECTION 4. Chapter 27-20 of the General Laws entitled "Nonprofit Medical Service 15
60	60	Corporations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 16
61	61	27-20-83. Glucagon hypoglycemia medications.. 17
62	62	Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides 18
63	63	prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state 19
64	64	on or after January 1, 2026, shall provide coverage for at least one type of glucagon auto-injector, 20
65	65	nasal spray or formulation not requiring reconstitution. There shall be no copayment required and 21
66	66	no deductible shall need to be met, to obtain two (2) glucagon auto-injectors, nasal spray or non- 22
67	67	reconstituted formulation covered by the contract, plan, or policy, every twelve (12) month plan 23
68	68	year. A deductible may be applied to health plans that are paired with federally qualified health 24
69	69	savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C § 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan 25
70	70	from implementing this benefit prior to January 1. 2026. 26
71	71	SECTION 5. Chapter 27-41 of the General Laws entitled "Health Maintenance 27
72	72	Organizations" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 28
73	73	27-41-100. Glucagon hypoglycemia medications.. 29
74	74	Every individual or group health insurance contract, plan, or policy that provides 30
75	75	prescription coverage and that is delivered, issued for delivery, prescribed, or renewed in this state 31
76	76	on or after January 1, 2026, shall provide coverage for at least one type of glucagon auto-injector, 32
77	77	nasal spray or formulation not requiring reconstitution. There shall be no copayment required and 33
78	78	no deductible shall need to be met, to obtain two (2) glucagon auto-injectors, nasal spray or non- 34
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82	82	reconstituted formulation covered by the contract, plan, or policy, every twelve (12) month plan 1
83	83	year. A deductible may be applied to health plans that are paired with federally qualified health 2
84	84	savings account pursuant to 26 U.S.C § 223. Nothing in this section would prohibit a health plan 3
85	85	from implementing this benefit prior to January 1. 2026. 4
86	86	SECTION 6. This act shall take effect upon passage. 5
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93	93	EXPLANATION
94	94	BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
95	95	OF
96	96	A N A C T
97	97	RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES
98	98	***
99	99	This act would require, commencing January 1, 2026, group health plans and health 1
100	100	insurance issuers that provide prescription benefits to cover at least one type of glucagon auto-2
101	101	injector, nasal spray, or formulation which does not require reconstitution to treat hypoglycemia 3
102	102	with two (2) glucagon auto-injectors every plan year. No copayment or deductible would be 4
103	103	required to obtain prescribed glucagon medications. 5
104	104	This act would take effect upon passage. 6
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