June 16, 2015
On May 8, 2015 Gov. Inslee signed SB 5441 into law, creating Chapter 213 of the Laws of 2015. The law states that insured group health benefit plans issued or renewed after Dec. 31, 2015 that provide coverage for prescription drugs must have medication synchronization programs for dispensing prescription drugs to plan participants. For this purpose, ‘medication synchronization’ means there is coordination of prescription drug refills for plan participants who are taking two or more medications for chronic conditions and medications are refilled on the same schedule for given periods of time. The law outlines various standards related to how often plan participants may obtain prescription drugs, whether the cost sharing can be adjusted and what adjustments may be made and the scope of what health care providers and pharmacists can require when a medication synchronization request has been made. The law is effective July 24, 2015.
Chapter 213, Laws of 2015 »