Rx: New Bill Would Limit HMOs’ Ability to Raise Drug Co-Pays

      The California Pharmacists Association (CPhA) gave its "deepest thanks" to state Assemblyman Martin Gallegos (D-Baldwin Park) yesterday for introducing a bill, AB 1722, that would eliminate HMOs' ability to raise co-payments or deductibles on prescription medication for patients currently taking that medication. "How do we expect our patients to comply with their medication regimen if health plans are tinkering with contract drug lists and are increasing drug co-payment rates?" asked Carlo Michelotti, CEO of CPhA, which sponsored the bill. Michelotti said, "The purpose of AB 1722 is to prevent increased co-payment of a drug that a patient is currently taking, ... so that a patient isn't suddenly socked with a $30 'non-formulary' co-payment when they were only paying a $10 'formulary' co-payment. ... It's time we put a stop to these drug formulary abuses." (CPhA Release, 1/4).