Health plans would be barred from restricting pharmacy support services

Health plan issuers would be barred from blocking, restricting, or penalizing these services, whether offered directly or through another party. The protection would cover pharmacies, pharmacists, and prescribers who dispense medicines under health benefit plans. It would bind health plan issuers, including companies managing prescription benefits and other outside plan administrators. Covered services include payment help, support for taking medicines as prescribed, and cost information. Electronic tools could explain drug costs and coverage or help patients get advance insurance approval. Protected data sharing covers patients, their health care providers and those providers' business associates, or other parties the patient authorizes. Help paying prescription drug costs must be permitted by state and federal law. Protected data sharing could occur when a pharmacy or pharmacist processes a claim or another electronic transaction, or at any time afterward.