Inhaler cost cap, wholesale prescription drugs bills headed to Rhode Island House committee

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Several bills pertaining to prescription drugs and their costs will be introduced in House committee Thursday.

A bill to be sponsored by House Speaker Pro Tempore Brian Patrick Kennedy would cap insulin administration and glucose monitoring equipment and supplies at $25 for a 30-day supply.

Equipment designed to last more than 30 days would have no deductible.

A bill sponsored by Rep. Teresa A. Tanzi would establish the Wholesale Prescription Drug Importation Program which would allow for the importation of wholesale prescription drugs from Canada.

Also to be introduced by Rep. David Morales is a bill that would cap the total amount an insured person would pay for a covered prescription asthma inhaler to $25 for a 30-day supply.

Another bill sponsored by House Majority Floor Manager John G. Edwards would prohibit health benefit plans reviewing prescriptions for opioid addiction treatment.

And a bill sponsored by House Deputy Majority Whip Mia A. Ackerman would allow the sharing of anonymized medical research data in the same manner allowed under federal law and most other states.

The bill would also assist in cancer research.