(Boston
Orange 編譯) 麻州州長奚莉 (Maura Healey)
今 (8) 日簽署2項法案，降低醫療健保開銷，並增加醫療護理行業的透明度。
這2項法案，S.3012 是關於藥物獲取，成本及透明度， H.5159 是要加強市場審核流程。這些法令旨在降低醫療護理成本，把處方藥價格限制在25美元，改善人們獲得初級護理的機會，加強對醫療護理業的監管，以保護病人及醫療護理供應者。
值得注意的是，它要求保險公司取消一種仿製葯的成本分攤要求，並將用於治療糖尿病、哮喘和某些心臟病的一種品牌葯的共付額上限，訂為每 30 天供應量 25 美元。
它還確保消費者在不使用保險的情況下購買藥物更便宜，並且不會向他們收取共付額，並且它要求保險公司在新成員切換到新計劃時為新成員的現有處方提供連續性的保險。
州政府也將成立工作小組，處理初級醫療護理可負擔性等地挑戰。
Governor Healey Signs Laws Lowering Health Care Costs and Strengthening Oversight
New laws cap prescription drug copays at $25, improve access to primary care and close regulatory gaps exploited by Steward Health Care
BOSTON – Governor Maura Healey today signed into law S.3012
An Act relative to pharmaceutical access, costs, and transparency and H.5159 An
Act enhancing the market review process. The laws seek to lower health care
costs, cap prescription drug costs at $25, improve access to primary care and
increase oversight of the health care industry to protect patients and
providers.
“We know that one of the biggest strains on Massachusetts
family's budgets is the high health care costs. These new laws will lower
out-of-pocket costs by capping copays at $25 for lifesaving prescription
medications and increasing transparency in the industry,” said Governor Maura
Healey. “They also close loopholes in our regulatory processes so that
for-profit providers like Steward Health Care are subject to the same
transparency rules as non-profit providers. As Attorney General, I spent years
in court trying to hold Steward to this standard, and I’m glad that our laws
will no longer be exploited in this way. I’m grateful for the strong leadership
of Speaker Ron Mariano, Senate President Karen Spilka, and the Legislature for
advancing these bills that will strengthen our health care system, lower costs,
and protect patients and providers.”
“Massachusetts is proud to be a global leader in health care
and life sciences innovation. Together, these laws further increase our ability
to deliver world-class medical care that patients can afford and empower
government to hold the health care industry accountable to the people,” said Lieutenant
Governor Kim Driscoll. “We appreciate the partnership of the Legislature, as
well as all of the health care leaders, providers and patients who made their
voices heard throughout this process.”
“The bills signed by Governor Healey today represent the
Legislature’s enduring commitment to protecting patients, bringing down cost
growth, and to fostering greater stability and accountability within the health
care system,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “Before Steward
Health Care ultimately collapsed, executives spent years hiding their financial
information from state regulators, putting patients and our health care system
at risk. That’s why ensuring that our institutions are equipped to monitor the
health care landscape, and to guard against trends and transactions that drive
up costs without improving patient outcomes, is so important. I would like to
thank Chairman Lawn and our partners in the Senate for getting these bills across
the finish line and marking the end of an incredibly productive legislative
session.”
"Because of our actions today, thousands of residents
will pay less at the pharmacy counter, and communities across the state will be
more protected from the high costs of private equity mismanagement," said
Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "With the Governor's
signature on these two bills, we are doubling down on our global leadership in
health care and making sure that in Massachusetts, patients are put before
profits. I am grateful for Governor Healey's signature, the tireless and
unwavering work of Senator Friedman, my colleagues in the Senate, and our
partners in the House for getting these bills across the finish
line."
An Act relative to pharmaceutical access, costs and
transparency includes comprehensive reforms to lower the cost of prescription
drugs and improve oversight of the pharmaceutical industry. Notably, it
requires insurers to eliminate cost-sharing requirements for one generic drug
and to cap co-payments on one brand-name drug at $25 per 30-day supply for
diabetes, asthma, and certain heart conditions. It also ensures that consumers
are not charged a co-pay if it would be cheaper for them to purchase a drug
without using their insurance, and it requires insurers to provide continuity
of coverage for new members' existing prescriptions when they switch to a new
plan.
An Act enhancing the market review process seeks to close
loopholes in the health care market regulatory process. It expands the scope of
data collection and public review of health care and health care transactions
by the Health Policy Commission (HPC) and the Center for Health Analysis and
Information (CHIA), with the goal of increasing visibility and accountability
for transactions involving private owners of health care resources. This will
help to close gaps in oversight that were exploited for years by Steward Health
Care and Ralph de la Torre. For example, it prohibits DPH from issuing hospital
licenses to hospitals or systems where the main acute care campus is on Real
Estate Investment Trust (REIT)-owned property. It also seeks to increase
transparency around health care entities and their ownership, including more
rigorous data sharing requirements and expanding participation in regulatory
process to nontraditional healthcare entities.
The bill also includes a provision establishing a primary
care task force, co-chaired by Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh
and the Executive Director of the HPC. The task force will study primary care
access, delivery and payment, and develop recommendations to stabilize and
strengthen the primary care system, increase recruitment, and increase
financial investment and patient access.
“These laws are an important step toward transparency and
accountability for our health care system, and making medications more
affordable,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh. “We know
primary care access is a critical component of health equity, so I’m especially
looking forward to the commitment of strengthening our primary care system to
help more people in Massachusetts live healthy lives.”
“Skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs and pervasive
practices by private equity interests in health care have created an untenable situation
for Massachusetts residents seeking care," said Senator Cindy F. Friedman
(D-Arlington), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing.
"I am hopeful that with Governor Healey’s signature on these two important
pieces of legislation, our Commonwealth will gain more tools and a better
understanding of these industries as we continue our work to ensure that
patients come before profits and our residents receive high-quality care that
is accessible and affordable, whenever they need it. I thank all of my
legislative colleagues and the stakeholders who partnered with us to get these
bills to the Governor’s desk.”
“What Ralph De La Torre and Steward did to our residents was
unconscionable and reprehensible, however, it was legal. Following the Steward
Health Care crisis, it is the Legislature’s responsibility to ensure that what
happened with Steward never happens again in the Commonwealth,” said
Representative John J. Lawn, Jr. (D-Watertown). “That means closing loopholes
in our regulatory process that Steward exploited for years and shining a light
on the blind spots that allowed Steward to exploit Massachusetts patients for
profit. Under the leadership of Speaker Mariano, the House remains committed to
fighting to protect patients, preserve community hospitals, and increase access
to high-quality, affordable health care in the right setting.”
“These new laws put patients and working families over
corporate profits,” said Senator John J. Cronin (D-Fitchburg). “These measures
take critical steps to limit out-of-pocket costs for residents and hold
pharmacy benefit managers and private equity firms accountable. I’m grateful to
Governor Healey for her leadership on these issues.”
“As someone who represents communities within the Merrimack
Valley that were impacted by Steward’s closure, I am grateful that this
historic legislation was passed by the Legislature. These two critical pieces
of legislation will positively impact every resident in Massachusetts by making
life-saving and essential prescription drugs more affordable for all residents,
while also working to ensure that another Steward Health Care situation is
never allowed to happen again in Massachusetts,” said Second Assistant Majority
Leader Frank A. Moran (D-Lawrence). “I would like to thank Governor Healey,
Lieutenant Governor Driscoll, Speaker Mariano, Senate President Spilka, House
Chair Lawn, and Senate Chair Friedman for their steadfast leadership in making
this legislation a priority this session.”
“The crisis and long-term impacts to the health care system
that Steward Health Care caused through financial greed and negligence has led
to the important reforms in this legislation that will strengthen oversight of
the Commonwealth’s health care system, helping to prevent future crises and
ensure Massachusetts residents have access to high-quality care,” stated Representative
Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury). “I am pleased to see the Governor sign this
significant legislation into law today.”
“I look forward to implementing these new laws that will
help advance important transparency and affordability safeguards at the
Division of Insurance for Massachusetts consumers,” said Commissioner of
Insurance Michael Caljouw.
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