August 10, 1:57 PM- NY Disability Examiner - Tom Scott
Legislation introduced by Senator John D. Rockefeller IV (WV) may help ensure that expensive medications are made more affordable to many Americans.
The Affordable Access to Prescription Medications Act of 2009, would cap monthly out-of-pocket costs for medications, including drugs under Medicare Part D and those in the private insurance market.
Opponents of health insurance practices have argued that numerous insurers are moving drugs critical to the health and quality of life of thousands of patients, including those with multiple sclerosis (MS) and spinal cord injuries (SCI), onto specialty tiers.
Unlike the first three tiers of a drug formulary (list of prescription medications that a drug plan will pay for), drugs on the fourth or specialty tier imposes an out-of-pocket cost of 20 to 35 percent. The drugs included on this tier are often the ones that many individuals rely on the most, however, are unable to afford.
This new legislation would create a monthly $200 per medication cap on all out-of-pocket prescription drug costs and a monthly $500 per person cap for those taking more than one medication.
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