Step Therapy Reform: S1267, sponsored by Senator Neil Breslin requires a utilization review agent to follow certain rules when establishing a step therapy protocol. For example, the bill honors step therapy exceptions for 12 months after the date of the approval or renewal of the plan. It prohibits plans from requiring a patient to step through a drug that it’s being used off-label for that patient. It also prevents plans from requiring a patient to try and fail more than one drug before providing coverage for the originally prescribed medication.

Exceptions for Nonresident Pharmacies Registration Requirements: S982, sponsored by Senator Samra Brouk would permit unregistered pharmacies from outside New York to ship, mail, or deliver prescription drugs to pharmacies in-state in cases of a specific patient need or a declared public health emergency.

Program Eligibility for Plans Comparable to Medicare: S966, sponsored by Senator Gustavo Rivera, would allow individuals who have comparable coverage to a Medicare Part D plan to also be eligible for Elderly Pharmaceutical Insurance coverage (EPIC) if they otherwise qualify.

Insulin Cost Cap: S504, sponsored by Senator Gustavo Rivera, would lower the current cap on cost sharing for insulin from $100 per insulin prescription per month to $30 per month for all insulin drug prescriptions in a given month.

Notification for Prescription Drug Changes: S599, sponsored by Senator Julia Salazar, would require prescription drug manufacturers to provide at least 60-day notice of their intent to raise wholesale prescription drug costs to the Department of Financial Services if the increase is 10 percent or more of the total cost of the drug.

Prohibiting the Price Gouging of Medicine: S608A, sponsored by Senator Julia Salazar bars price gouging for drugs subject to a shortage and holds any party in the chain of distribution for charging an excessive price liable for civil penalties.

Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation: S604, sponsored by Senator James Skoufis, establishes a wholesale prescription drug importation program in New York State, in accordance with federal law, from countries with consumer safety on par with the U.S. drug supply chain system and where significant consumer cost savings are possible.