SF 1610

as introduced - 91st Legislature (2019 - 2020) Posted on 03/07/2019 04:19pm

A bill for an act
relating to health; providing for synchronization of prescription drug refills;
proposing coding for new law as Minnesota Statutes, chapter 62W.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [62W.10] SYNCHRONIZATION.
new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, "synchronization" means the coordination of prescription
drug refills for a patient taking two or more medications for one or more chronic conditions,
to allow the patient's medications to be refilled on the same schedule for a given period of
time.
new text end

new text begin (b) A contract between a pharmacy benefit manager and a pharmacy must allow for
synchronization of prescription drug refills for a patient on at least one occasion per year,
if the following criteria are met:
new text end

new text begin (1) the prescription drugs are covered under the patient's health plan or have been
approved by a formulary exceptions process;
new text end

new text begin (2) the prescription drugs are maintenance medications as defined by the health plan
and have one or more refills available at the time of synchronization;
new text end

new text begin (3) the prescription drugs are not Schedule II, III, or IV controlled substances;
new text end

new text begin (4) the patient meets all utilization management criteria relevant to the prescription drug
at the time of synchronization;
new text end

new text begin (5) the prescription drugs are of a formulation that can be safely split into short-fill
periods to achieve synchronization; and
new text end

new text begin (6) the prescription drugs do not have special handling or sourcing needs that require a
single, designated pharmacy to fill or refill the prescription.
new text end

new text begin (c) When necessary to permit synchronization, the pharmacy benefit manager must apply
a prorated, daily patient cost-sharing rate to any prescription drug dispensed by a pharmacy
under this section. The dispensing fee must not be prorated, and all dispensing fees shall
be based on the number of prescriptions filled or refilled.
new text end

new text begin (d) Synchronization may be requested by the patient or by the patient's parent or legal
guardian. For purposes of this paragraph, "legal guardian" includes but is not limited to a
guardian of an incapacitated person appointed pursuant to chapter 524.
new text end