Gov. Jack Markell (D-DE) recently signed legislation that caps patients’ co-pays for specialty prescription drugs at $150 a month. Delaware’s new law applies to drugs that cost $600 or more a month and are used to treat medical conditions that include multiple sclerosis, hepatitis C, and rheumatoid arthritis. “Big pharma and greedy insurance companies should not be allowed to exploit vulnerable patients facing chronic and debilitating illnesses,” said Ruben Burks, Secretary-Treasurer of the Alliance for Retired American (Alliance). Read the Washington Post’s write-up at http://tinyurl.com/oahdvyg.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation on Thursday to allow Medicare Part D beneficiaries nationally to request lower co-pays for high-cost specialty drugs used to treat chronic illnesses. The proposal, the “Part D Beneficiary Appeals Fairness Act,” is spearheaded by Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Susan Collins (R-ME) in the Senate and U.S. Reps. Hank Johnson (D-GA), Walter Jones (R-NC), David McKinley (R-WV) and Bruce Braley (D-Iowa) in the House. The Senate bill is S. 1365; the House measure is H.R. 2827. Currently, Medicare Part D beneficiaries are prohibited from seeking exemptions from their plans that could lower their cost-share for specialty drugs – basic right beneficiaries have throughout the rest of the program. A U.S. Congress news release noted more than 30 national groups support the bill, including the Alliance.
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