U.S. Reps A. Donald McEachin (D-VA) and Rodney Davis (R-IL) introduced the Help Ensure Lower Patient (HELP) Copays Act (H.R. 5801) as a means of bolstering previous actions to reduce patient out-of-pocket (OOP) costs.
Other prescription drug cost lowering endeavors have included prohibiting the use of copay accumulator programs and ensuring insurers cannot exclude the value of pharmaceutical manufacturer cost-sharing aid from counting toward the annual cost-sharing limit.
“Access to life-saving prescription drug medications should not be complicated by undue financial barriers,” McEachin said. “As Americans continue navigating the coronavirus pandemic, we must take steps to protect them from undue out-of-pocket expenses. I am proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation, alongside Congressman Davis, to protect patients who rely on copay assistance.”
Davis said making prescription drugs more affordable across the board serves as one of his priorities and a bipartisan goal shared by Congress.
“Especially with the costs of goods and services on the rise, patients shouldn’t have to face complicated financial barriers when purchasing prescription drugs,” he said. “Every dollar saved counts. That’s why I’m proud to join Congressman McEachin in introducing this bipartisan legislation so we can provide financial relief to patients and promote their health at the same time.”
National Hemophilia Foundation President and CEO Dr. Leonard A. Valentino commended the legislators for introducing the measure.
“This critical bipartisan legislation will prevent health plans from implementing programs that are creating significant treatment access barriers,” he said. “Considering the ongoing challenges that COVID-19 poses for many, this is an especially positive step in protecting patients with any sort of pre-existing, complex or chronic health conditions.”