Governor David Paterson signed the Prescription Drug Out-of-Pocket Cost Limitation Act into law on Friday, October 1, 2010.

 

After intense advocacy on behalf of New York State Breast Cancer Network member organizations and our Tier Four Coalition partners, Governor David Paterson signed this essential legislation, A8278A (Kellner et al.) and S5000A (Duane et al.), into law. The NYS Breast Cancer Network is proud to have worked with our Tier Four Coalition partners to put this important protection into place.

 

The Prescription Drug Out-of-Pocket Cost Limitation Act prohibits insurers and health maintenance organization from creating specialty tiers within their prescription drug formularies. These specialty tiers force patients to pay a percentage of the cost of certain high-priced drugs, rather than a fixed amount, as a co-payment for a prescription drug. Specialty tiers most often apply to drugs needed by people suffering from life-threatening and/or chronic illnesses, thus requiring people with these conditions, even though insured, to pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars a month for vital medication.

 

The Network chose this bill for its 2010-2011 legislative agenda to protect NYS health consumers from this unfair and dangerous practice. With the signing of the bill we are assured that this can never happen in New York State.