Insights

On April 26, 2017, Gov. Holcomb signed HB 1540, creating Public Law 202-2017, which provides that a health insurance policy and a health maintenance organization contract that provide coverage for prescription medications must provide for synchronized refill schedule coordination for prescription medications for chronic conditions.

“Synchronize" means to use a single pharmacy dispensing process as a means of coordinating the covered individual's medications at the same time when:

1. A particular medication:
   1. is of a formulation that can be effectively split, and
   2. does not have quantity limits or dose optimization criteria as specified in the policy’s formulary and prior authorization requirements;
2. The covered individual is on a stabilized treatment plan for a chronic condition and the synchronization is for those drugs treating a chronic condition; and
3. The medication is not:
   1. an opioid, stimulant, sedative or hypnotic medication, or
   2. another medication that is addictive and subject to abuse

Although this new law is aimed at insurers, it is important for employers to be aware of what insurers may be doing and what they are now required to do when issuing policies.

This law is effective July 1, 2017.

Public Law 202-2017 »