Oregon Passes House Bill 4113! Prescription Medicine Financial Assistance
Patients are paying more for their medications because some insurance companies are no longer allowing the use of prescription drug financial assistance programs to count toward out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles. This bill will make sure health insurance plans continue to count patient assistance programs in co-pays for lifesaving medications.
Our Position
Patients and people with disabilities deserve access to affordable medications.
Disability Rights Oregon made this one of our priorities during the 2024 session because three years ago we saw powerful insurance companies kill legislation that would require health insurance plans in Oregon to count patient assistance programs in co-pays for lifesaving medications.
Today, patients are paying more for their medications because some insurance companies are no longer allowing the use of prescription drug financial assistance programs to count toward out-of-pocket expenses and deductibles. People with chronic illnesses, such as asthma, diabetes, HIV, arthritis and hemophilia, have high medical expenses. Financial assistance options by drug makers allow these patients to pay less for their medications.
Our healthcare system has many flaws that need to be fixed, but the reality is insurance companies are taking away a cost-sharing tool we've come to rely on—and people with disabilities are getting hurt in the process.
RESOURCES
Meghan Moyer, Public Policy Director, Oral Testimony to the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care on February 21, 2024
Chief Sponsors:
Representative Cyrus Javadi (R-Astoria & Northwest Oregon Coast)
Representative Emerson Levy (D-Bend & Tumalo)
Senator Gelser Blouin (D-Albany, Corvallis & South Salem)
