St. Paul, MN - As part of numerous new state laws taking effect on January 1, 2025, health plans will be required to cap co-pays at $25 per one-month supply of prescription drugs used to treat chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma, and allergies requiring the use of epinephrine auto-injectors.
The new law, authored in the Minnesota House by Rep. Howard (DFL - Richfield), would also place a $50 cap per month on related medical supplies.
“No one should break the bank to cover the cost of medication they need to survive and thrive,” said Rep. Howard. “Our new law will make these life-saving medications, and the supplies that accompany them, more affordable for Minnesotans. This is the latest step our state has taken to put patients over profits, but it cannot be the last.”
The listed price of these medications has soared over the past decade, putting incredible stress on Minnesotans. More than 500,000 Minnesotans have been diagnosed with asthma and around 390,000 Minnesotans have either Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes.
The medical supplies covered by the law include syringes, insulin pens and pumps, test strips, glucometers, continuous glucose monitors, epinephrine auto-injectors, and asthma inhalers. Under the law, the cost-sharing limit for related medical supplies will not increase with the number of chronic diseases for which an enrollee is treated, and coverage would not be subject to a deductible.
A comprehensive list of the new laws taking effect on January 1 can be found here.
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