HOUSE BILL 555

46th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2003

INTRODUCED BY

John A. Heaton







AN ACT

RELATING TO HEALTH INSURANCE; REQUIRING STANDARD CO-PAYMENTS ON PRESCRIPTION DRUG PURCHASES.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. A new section of Chapter 13, Article 7 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] Any health care coverage, including any form of self-insurance, offered, issued or renewed under the Health Care Purchasing Act on or after July 1, 2003 that offers prescription drug coverage with co-payments by the insured shall require that co-payments be the same for any prescribed drug, in the same quantity and for the same duration, whether the prescription is dispensed by a retail pharmacy, by mail order or by any other means."

Section 2. A new section of Chapter 59A, Article 22 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] An individual or group hospital or medical expense insurance policy offered, issued or renewed in New Mexico on or after July 1, 2003 that offers prescription drug coverage with co-payments by the insured shall require that co-payments be the same for any prescribed drug, in the same quantity and for the same duration, whether the prescription is dispensed by a retail pharmacy, by mail order or by any other means."

Section 3. A new section of Chapter 59A, Article 23 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] Each group health insurance policy offered, issued or renewed in New Mexico on or after July 1, 2003 that offers prescription drug coverage with co-payments by the insured shall require that co-payments be the same for any prescribed drug, in the same quantity and for the same duration, whether the prescription is dispensed by a retail pharmacy, by mail order or by any other means."

Section 4. A new section of Chapter 59A, Article 46 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] All individual and group health maintenance organization contracts offered, issued or renewed in New Mexico on or after July 1, 2003 that offer prescription drug coverage with co-payments by the enrollee shall require that co-payments be the same for any prescribed drug, in the same quantity and for the same duration, whether the prescription is dispensed by a retail pharmacy, by mail order or by any other means."

Section 5. A new section of Chapter 59A, Article 47 NMSA 1978 is enacted to read:

"[NEW MATERIAL] Any individual and group subscriber contracts offered, issued or renewed in New Mexico on or after July 1, 2003 that offer prescription drug coverage with co-payments by the subscriber shall require that co-payments be the same for any prescribed drug, in the same quantity and for the same duration, whether the prescription is dispensed by a retail pharmacy, by mail order or by any other means."

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