Delaware 151st General Assembly (2021-2022) Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 12 D · 1 R cosponsors

SB 267 — AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE TO ENSURE FAIRNESS IN COST-SHARING FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.

Last action — Signed by Governor

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

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced April 14, 2022. Enacted.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence
  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 18 sponsors

    4 primary, 14 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (12 D · 1 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 3 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

The bill requires that third-party cost-sharing assistance utilized by patients is applied toward the enrollee's health insurance deductibles and any out-of-pocket limits. Additionally, the bill defines what constitutes a “cost-sharing requirement” as well as how to calculate the assistance when applying to patient’s deductibles and out-of-pocket limits. This bill applies to both carriers and pharmacy benefits managers with an effective date of January 1, 2024.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

167 added · 13 removed

167 line(s) added, 13 removed.

→
Previous
Latest
Rep.
Sen.
Griffith HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY HOUSE AMENDMENT NO.
Mantzavinos & Rep.
1 TO SENATE BILL NO.
Griffith & Rep.
267 AMEND Senate Bill No.
Heffernan & Rep.
267 by deleting lines 60 and 61 in their entirety.
Dorsey Walker Sens.
FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No.
Ennis, Gay, Hansen, Pinkney, Poore;
267 by deleting lines 102 and 103 in their entirety.
Reps.
FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No.
Bolden, Bush, K.
267 by deleting lines 139 and 140 in their entirety.
Johnson, Minor-Brown, Mitchell, Osienski, Michael Smith, K.
FURTHER AMEND Senate Bill No.
Williams, Wilson-Anton DELAWARE STATE SENATE 151st GENERAL ASSEMBLY SENATE BILL NO.
267 by inserting after line 142 the following:
267 AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 18 OF THE DELAWARE CODE TO ENSURE FAIRNESS IN COST-SHARING FOR PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
“Section 4.
WHEREAS, some residents of Delaware rely on state-regulated commercial carriers to secure access to the prescription medicines needed to protect their health;
This Act is effective immediately and applies to health benefit plans that are entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024.”.
and WHEREAS, commercial insurance designs may require patients to bear significant out-of-pocket costs for their prescription medicines;
SYNOPSIS This amendment resolves a technical error.
and WHEREAS, high out-of-pocket costs on prescription medicines may impact the ability of patients to start new and necessary medicines and to stay adherent to their current medicines;
HD :
and WHEREAS, high or unpredictable cost-sharing requirements are a main driver of elevated patient out-of-pocket costs and may allow carriers to capture discounts and price concessions that are intended to benefit patients at the pharmacy counter;
KL :
and WHEREAS, carriers may increase cost-sharing burdens on patients by refusing to count third party assistance toward patients’ cost-sharing contributions;
MAW Page 1 of 1 Released:
and WHEREAS, the burdens of high or unpredictable cost-sharing requirements are borne disproportionately by patients with chronic or debilitating conditions;
06/29/2022 02:40 PM 2141510799
and WHEREAS, restrictions are needed on the ability of carriers and intermediaries to use unfair cost-sharing design to retain rebates and price concessions that instead should be passed on to patients as cost savings;
and WHEREAS, patients need equitable and accessible health coverage that does not impose unfair cost-sharing burdens upon them;
and WHEREAS, it is important that, to the full extent permissible and consistent with applicable law, state-regulated carriers and the entities with which they contract do not restrict patient access to medicines through the consumer- unfriendly practice of refusing to count third party cost-sharing assistance toward patient cost-sharing obligations.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
SD :
FJM :
ALW Page 1 of 6 Released:
04/14/2022 01:17 PM Section 1.
Amend Title 18 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and by redesignating accordingly:
§ 3350B.
Copayment or coinsurance for prescription drugs limited.
(a) Definitions.
(1) “Carrier” means any entity that provides health insurance in this State.
“Carrier” includes an insurance company, health service corporation, health maintenance organization, and any other entity providing a plan of health insurance or health benefits subject to state insurance regulation.
(2) “Contract price” means the lowest price a pharmacy is paid for the acquisition of a prescription drug based on a contract that a pharmacy has with a carrier or pharmacy benefits manager.
“Contract price” includes a dispensing fee set by a contract between a pharmacy and a carrier or pharmacy benefits manager.
(3) “Cost-sharing requirement” means any copayment, coinsurance, deductible, or annual limitation on cost- sharing (including a limitation subject to 42 U.S.C.
§§ 18022(c) and 300gg-6(b)), required by or on behalf of an enrollee in order to receive a specific health care service, including a prescription drug, covered by a health benefit plan.
(4) “Health benefit plan” means as defined in § 3343 of this title.
(5) “Health care service” means an item or service furnished to any individual for the purpose of preventing, alleviating, curing, or healing human illness, injury, or physical disability.
(6) “Person” means as defined in § 102 of this title.
(37) “Pharmacy” means as defined in § 2502 of Title 24.
Show all 125 changed rows (85 more)
Previous
Latest
(48) “Pharmacy benefit manager” means as defined under § 3302A of this title.
(b) Application.- This section applies to a carrier that provides coverage, either directly or through a pharmacy benefits manager, for prescription drugs under a health insurance policy, health benefit plan, or contract that is issued or delivered in this State.
(c) A carrier subject to this section may not impose a copayment or coinsurance requirement for a covered prescription drug that exceeds the lesser of 1 of the following:
(1) The applicable copayment or coinsurance that would apply for the prescription drug in the absence of this section.
(2) The amount an individual would pay for the prescription drug if the individual were paying the usual and customary price.
(3) The contract price for the prescription drug.
SD :
FJM :
ALW Page 2 of 6 Released:
04/14/2022 01:17 PM (d) Cost-Sharing Calculation.
When calculating an enrollee contribution to any applicable cost sharing requirement, a carrier shall include any cost-sharing amounts paid by the enrollee or on behalf of the enrollee by another person.
If under federal law, application of this requirement would result in Health Savings Account ineligibility under § 223 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, this requirement shall apply for Health Savings Account-qualified High Deductible Health Plans with respect to the deductible of such a plan after the enrollee has satisfied the minimum deductible under § 223, except with respect to items or services that are preventive care pursuant to § 223(c)(2)(C) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, in which case the requirements of this paragraph shall apply regardless of whether the minimum deductible under § 223 has been satisfied.
(e) Effective Date.
This section shall apply to health benefit plans that are entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024.
(f) Rule-Making.
The Insurance Commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to implement and administer this section.
Section 2.
Amend Chapter 35, Title 18 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows and by redesignating accordingly:
§ 3566A.
Copayment or coinsurance for prescription drugs limited.
(a) Definitions.
(1) “Carrier” means any entity that provides health insurance in this State.
“Carrier” includes an insurance company, health service corporation, health maintenance organization, and any other entity providing a plan of health insurance or health benefits subject to state insurance regulation.
(2) “Contract price” means the lowest price a pharmacy is paid for the acquisition of a prescription drug based on a contract that a pharmacy has with a carrier or pharmacy benefits manager.
“Contract price” includes a dispensing fee set by a contract between a pharmacy and a carrier or pharmacy benefits manager.
(3) “Cost-sharing requirement” means any copayment, coinsurance, deductible, or annual limitation on cost- sharing (including a limitation subject to 42 U.S.C.
§§ 18022(c) and 300gg-6(b)), required by or on behalf of an enrollee in order to receive a specific health care service, including a prescription drug, covered by a health benefit plan.
(4) “Health benefit plan” means as defined in § 3343 of this title.
(5) “Health care service” means an item or service furnished to any individual for the purpose of preventing, alleviating, curing, or healing human illness, injury, or physical disability.
(6) “Person” means as defined in § 102 of this Title.
SD :
FJM :
ALW Page 3 of 6 Released:
04/14/2022 01:17 PM 82 (37) “Pharmacy” means as defined in § 2502 of Title 24.
(48) “Pharmacy benefit manager” means as defined under § 3302A of this title.
(b) Application.- This section applies to a carrier that provides coverage, either directly or through a pharmacy benefits manager, for prescription drugs under a health insurance policy, health benefit plan, or contract that is issued or delivered in this State.
(c) A carrier subject to this section may not impose a copayment or coinsurance requirement for a covered prescription drug that exceeds the lesser of one of the following:
(1) The applicable copayment or coinsurance that would apply for the prescription drug in the absence of this section.
(2) The amount an individual would pay for the prescription drug if the individual were paying the usual and customary price.
(3) The contract price for the prescription drug.
(d) Cost-Sharing Calculation.
When calculating an enrollee contribution to any applicable cost sharing requirement, a carrier shall include any cost-sharing amounts paid by the enrollee or on behalf of the enrollee by another person.
If under federal law, application of this requirement would result in Health Savings Account ineligibility under § 223 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, this requirement shall apply for Health Savings Account-qualified High Deductible Health Plans with respect to the deductible of such a plan after the enrollee has satisfied the minimum deductible under § 223, except with respect to items or services that are preventive care pursuant to § 223(c)(2)(C) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, in which case the requirements of this paragraph shall apply regardless of whether the minimum deductible under § 223 has been satisfied.
(e) Effective Date.
This section shall apply to health benefit plans that are entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024.
(f) Rule-Making.
The Insurance Commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to implement and administer this section.
Section 3.
Amend Chapter 33A, Title 18 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
Subchapter III.
Fairness in Cost-Sharing for Pharmacy Benefits Managers.
§ 3381A.
Definitions.
For purposes of this subchapter:
SD :
FJM :
ALW Page 4 of 6 Released:
04/14/2022 01:17 PM (1) “Cost-sharing requirement” means any copayment, coinsurance, deductible, or annual limitation on cost- sharing (including a limitation subject to 42 U.S.C.
§§ 18022(c) and 300gg-6(b)), required by or on behalf of an enrollee in order to receive a specific health care service, including a prescription drug, covered by a health benefit plan.
(2) “Enrollee” means any individual entitled to health care services from an insurer.
(3) “Health benefit plan” means a policy, contract, certification, or agreement offered or issued by an insurer to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of health care services.
(4) “Health care service” means a policy, contract, certification, or agreement offered or issued by an insurer to provide, deliver, arrange for, pay for, or reimburse any of the costs of health care services.
(5) “Insurer” means as defined under § 3321A of this title.
(6) “Person” means a natural person, corporation, mutual company, unincorporated association, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, estate, foundation, not-for-profit corporation, unincorporated organization, government or governmental subdivision or agency.
(7) “Pharmacy benefits manager” means as defined under § 3302A of Title 18, and shall include any person, business, or other entity that, pursuant to a contract or under an employment relationship with an insurer, either directly or through an intermediary, manages the prescription drug benefit provided by the insurer, including the processing and payment of claims for prescription drugs, the performance of drug utilization review, the processing of drug prior authorization requests, the adjudication of appeals or grievances related to the prescription drug benefit, contracting with network pharmacies, and/or controlling the cost of covered prescription drugs.
§ 3382A.
Fairness in Cost-Sharing.
(a) Cost-Sharing Calculation.
When calculating an enrollee’s contribution to any applicable cost-sharing requirement, a pharmacy benefits manager shall include any cost-sharing amounts paid by the enrollee or on behalf of the enrollee by another person.
If under federal law, application of this requirement would result in Health Savings Account ineligibility under § 223 of the federal Internal Revenue Code, this requirement shall apply for Health Savings Account- qualified High Deductible Health Plans with respect to the deductible of such a plan after the enrollee has satisfied the minimum deductible under § 223, except with respect to items or services that are preventive care pursuant to § 223(c)(2)(C) of the federal Internal Revenue Code, in which case the requirements of this paragraph shall apply regardless of whether the minimum deductible under § 223 has been satisfied.
(b) Effective Date.
This section shall apply to health benefit plans that are entered into, amended, extended, or renewed on or after January 1, 2024.
SD :
FJM :
ALW Page 5 of 6 Released:
04/14/2022 01:17 PM (c) Rule-Making.
The Insurance Commissioner may promulgate rules and regulations as may be necessary or appropriate to implement and administer this section.
SYNOPSIS The bill requires that third-party cost-sharing assistance utilized by patients is applied toward the enrollee's health insurance deductibles and any out-of-pocket limits.
Additionally, the bill defines what constitutes a “cost-sharing requirement” as well as how to calculate the assistance when applying to patient’s deductibles and out-of-pocket limits.
This bill applies to both carriers and pharmacy benefits managers with an effective date of January 1, 2024.
Author:
Senator Mantzavinos SD :
FJM :
ALW Page 6 of 6 Released:
04/14/2022 01:17 PM 2711510014
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. Signed by Governor

  2. Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  3. Passed By House. Votes: 40 YES 1 ABSENT

  4. Amendment HA 1 to SB 267 - Passed In House by Voice Vote

  5. Reported Out of Committee (Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce) in House with 2 Favorable, 6 On Its Merits, 1 Unfavorable

  6. Assigned to Economic Development/Banking/Insurance & Commerce Committee in House

  7. Passed By Senate. Votes: 21 YES

  8. Reported Out of Committee (Banking, Business & Insurance) in Senate with 1 Favorable, 3 On Its Merits

  9. Introduced and Assigned to Banking, Business & Insurance Committee in Senate

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

4 sponsors · 14 co-sponsors · 44 not signed on

Sponsors (4)

Co-sponsors (14)

Not signed on (44)

44 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 44 →

"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

Votes

2/3

Passed 21 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5000
Democratic 11000
Republican 5000
Total 21000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (21)
Member Party Vote
Bruce C. Ennis — Yea
Colin Bonini — Yea
Ernesto B Lopez — Yea
Kyle Evans Gay — Yea
Sarah McBride — Yea
Bryan Townsend Democratic Yea
Darius J. Brown Democratic Yea
David P. Sokola Democratic Yea
John "Jack" Walsh Democratic Yea
Laura V. Sturgeon Democratic Yea
Marie Pinkney Democratic Yea
Nicole Poore Democratic Yea
S. Elizabeth Lockman Democratic Yea
Spiros Mantzavinos Democratic Yea
Stephanie L. Hansen Democratic Yea
Trey Paradee Democratic Yea
Brian Pettyjohn Republican Yea
Bryant L. Richardson Republican Yea
Dave G. Lawson Republican Yea
David L. Wilson Republican Yea
Gerald W. Hocker Republican Yea

Official roll call →

SM

Passed 40 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 12001
Democratic 16000
Republican 12000
Total 40001
% of votes cast 98%0%0%2%
How each member voted (41)
Member Party Vote
Andria L. Bennett — Yea
Charles "Bud" M. Freel — Yea
David Bentz — Yea
John A. Kowalko — Yea
John L. Mitchell — Yea
Michael Ramone — Yea
Paul S. Baumbach — Yea
Peter C. Schwartzkopf — Yea
Ruth Briggs King — Yea
Sean Matthews — Yea
Sherry Dorsey Walker — Yea
Stephen Smyk — Not Voting
Valerie Longhurst — Yea
Debra Heffernan Democratic Yea
Edward S. Osienski Democratic Yea
Eric Morrison Democratic Yea
Franklin D. Cooke Democratic Yea
Kendra Johnson Democratic Yea
Kimberly Williams Democratic Yea
Krista Griffith Democratic Yea
Larry Lambert Democratic Yea
Madinah Wilson-Anton Democratic Yea
Melissa Minor-Brown Democratic Yea
Nnamdi O. Chukwuocha Democratic Yea
Sean M. Lynn Democratic Yea
Sherae'a Moore Democratic Yea
Stephanie T. Bolden Democratic Yea
William Bush Democratic Yea
William J. Carson Democratic Yea
Bryan W. Shupe Republican Yea
Charles S Postles Jr. Republican Yea
Daniel B. Short Republican Yea
Jeffrey N. Spiegelman Republican Yea
Jesse R. Vanderwende Republican Yea
Kevin S Hensley Republican Yea
Lyndon D. Yearick Republican Yea
Michael F. Smith Republican Yea
Richard G. Collins Republican Yea
Ronald E. Gray Republican Yea
Shannon Morris Republican Yea
Timothy D. Dukes Republican Yea

Official roll call →

SM

Passed 21 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5000
Democratic 11000
Republican 5000
Total 21000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (21)
Member Party Vote
Bruce C. Ennis — Yea
Colin Bonini — Yea
Ernesto B Lopez — Yea
Kyle Evans Gay — Yea
Sarah McBride — Yea
Bryan Townsend Democratic Yea
Darius J. Brown Democratic Yea
David P. Sokola Democratic Yea
John "Jack" Walsh Democratic Yea
Laura V. Sturgeon Democratic Yea
Marie Pinkney Democratic Yea
Nicole Poore Democratic Yea
S. Elizabeth Lockman Democratic Yea
Spiros Mantzavinos Democratic Yea
Stephanie L. Hansen Democratic Yea
Trey Paradee Democratic Yea
Brian Pettyjohn Republican Yea
Bryant L. Richardson Republican Yea
Dave G. Lawson Republican Yea
David L. Wilson Republican Yea
Gerald W. Hocker Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

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

What does SB 267 do?
The bill requires that third-party cost-sharing assistance utilized by patients is applied toward the enrollee's health insurance deductibles and any out-of-pocket limits. Additionally, the bill defines what constitutes a “cost-sharing requirement” as well as how to calculate the assistance when applying to patient’s deductibles and out-of-pocket limits. This bill applies to both carriers and pharmacy benefits managers with an effective date of January 1, 2024.
Who sponsors SB 267?
SB 267 is sponsored by Spiros Mantzavinos (Democratic), Krista Griffith (Democratic), Debra Heffernan (Democratic), Stephanie L. Hansen (Democratic), Marie Pinkney (Democratic), Nicole Poore (Democratic), Stephanie T. Bolden, William Bush (Democratic), Kendra Johnson (Democratic), Melissa Minor-Brown (Democratic), Edward S. Osienski (Democratic), Michael F. Smith (Republican), Kimberly Williams (Democratic), Madinah Wilson-Anton (Democratic), Kyle Evans Gay, John L. Mitchell, Bruce C. Ennis, and Sherry Dorsey Walker.
What is the current status of SB 267?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced April 14, 2022. Enacted.
Where can I track SB 267?
Track SB 267 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on SB 267

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.

Stay ahead of SB 267

Last checked for changes 2 months ago · updated continuously

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

Track this bill →