North Carolina 2021-2022 Session Status: In Committee Bipartisan · 10 D · 1 R · 1 I cosponsors

HB 643 — Reference Pricing for Prescription Drugs.

Last action — Passed 1st Reading

Track this bill free

No card. One bill, free forever — alerts when it moves.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2021-2022 Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

94 added · 93 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent changes to House Bill 643 include the addition of a section outlining definitions related to prescription drug pricing, such as terms like "ERISA plan" and "referenced rate." The bill emphasizes the need to establish a maximum price for certain prescription drugs, which aims to control costs for state-funded health programs and ultimately make medication more affordable for residents. This matters because it addresses the growing concern over high drug prices and their impact on public health funding.

→
Previous
Latest
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA H.B.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA SESSION 2021 H 1 HOUSE BILL 643 Short Title:
643 Apr 21, 2021 SESSION 2021 HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK H D HOUSE BILL DRH10310-MR-124B Short Title:
Representative Insko.
Representatives Insko, White, Hurtado, and Harrison (Primary Sponsors).
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROTECT THE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF NORTH CAROLINIANS BY SAFEGUARDING THEM FROM THE NEGATIVE AND HARMFUL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE PRICES FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House April 26, 2021 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT TO PROTECT THE SAFETY, HEALTH, AND ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF NORTH CAROLINIANS BY SAFEGUARDING THEM FROM THE NEGATIVE AND HARMFUL IMPACT OF EXCESSIVE PRICES FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
and Whereas,excessiveprices forprescriptiondrugscontributesignificantly to adramatic and unsustainable rise in health care costs and health insurance that threatens the overall ability of North Carolinians to obtain health coverage and maintain or acquire good health;
and Whereas, excessiveprices forprescriptiondrugs contributesignificantlyto adramatic and unsustainable rise in health care costs and health insurance that threatens the overall ability of North Carolinians to obtain health coverage and maintain or acquire good health;
and Whereas, the costs to consumers, health insurers, and the State for prescription drug coverage are higher than the costs in other countries because the prices charged by manufacturers and distributors of drugs in the State are higher;
and Whereas, the costs to consumers, health insurers, and the State for prescription drug coverage are higher than the costs in other countries because the prices charged bymanufacturers and distributors of drugs in the State are higher;
(a) Definitions.
*H643-v-1* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 (a) Definitions.
*DRH10310-MR-124B* General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 (1) ERISAplan.– AhealthplanqualifiedundertheEmployeeRetirementIncome Security Act of 1974.
(1) ERISAplan.– AhealthplanqualifiedundertheEmployeeRetirement Income Security Act of 1974.
(2) Utilizing the information described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, no later than July 1 of each year, the Commissioner shall create and publish a list on the Department of Insurance website of 250 referenced drugs and each drug's referenced rate for the next calendar year.
(2) Utilizing the information described in subdivision (1) of this subsection, no later than July1 of each year, the Commissioner shall create and publish a list on the Department of Insurance website of 250 referenced drugs and each drug's referenced rate for the next calendar year.
Régie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec, and most recently published on the Quebec Public Drug Programs List of Medications.
Régie de l'Assurance Maladie du Québec, and most recentlypublished on the Quebec Public Drug Programs List of Medications.
If a specific referenced drug is not included within the resources described in subdivision (3) of this subsection, then, for the purpose of determining the referenced rate for that drug, the Commissioner shall utilize the ceiling price for drugs as reported by the Government of Canada Patented Medicine Prices Review Board.
If a specific referenced drug is not included within the resources described in subdivision (3) of this subsection, then, for the purpose of determining the referenced rate for that Page 2 House Bill 643-First Edition General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 drug, the Commissioner shall utilize the ceiling price for drugs as reported by the Government of Canada Patented Medicine Prices Review Board.
Page 2 DRH10310-MR-124B General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2021 (c) Referenced Rate Health Benefit Plan Requirements.
(c) Referenced Rate Health Benefit Plan Requirements.
DRH10310-MR-124B Page 3
House Bill 643-First Edition Page 3
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. Passed 1st Reading

  2. Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House

  3. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

3 sponsors · 20 co-sponsors · 156 not signed on

Sponsors (3)

Co-sponsors (20)

Not signed on (156)

156 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 156 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors HB 643?
HB 643 is sponsored by Cecil Brockman (Democratic), R. Smith, Pricey Harrison (Democratic), Insko, Donna McDowell White (Republican), Hurtado, Carolyn G. Logan (Democratic), Lucas, Nasif Majeed (U), Marcia Morey (Democratic), Amos L. Quick, III (Democratic), Alexander, Vernetta Alston (Democratic), Autry, Amber M. Baker (Democratic), Cynthia Ball (Democratic), Mary Belk (Democratic), Deb Butler (Democratic), Cooper-Suggs, Fisher, Gill, Graham, and Hunt.
What is the current status of HB 643?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 643?
Track HB 643 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HB 643

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HB 643

Last checked for changes 3 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →