THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, JAnuARy 24, 2025 Page 3 DiDomenico celebrates new law boosting oversight of pharmaceutical industry, lowering costs and saving lives Bill includes oversight reforms to improve affordability of and access to prescription drugs Special to Th e Advocate for patients. The law takes bold action to L ast month Senator Sal DiDomenico and his colleagues in the Legislature enacted a bill mandating comprehensive reforms that will lower the cost of prescription drugs and improve oversight of the state’s pharmaceutical industry: S.3012, An Act relative to pharmaceutical access, costs and transparency. On January 9, 2025, Governor Maura Healey signed S.3012 into law as Chapter 342 of the Acts of 2024. Chapter 342 requires health insurers to cover life-saving medications for diabetes, asthma and certain heart conditions with no or limited out-of-pocket costs lower out-of-pocket costs and ensure access to life-saving medications by off ering immediate price relief for prescription drugs used to treat diabetes, asthma and certain heart conditions. For each condition, the bill requires insurers to eliminate cost-sharing requirements for one generic drug and to cap copayments on one brand-name drug at $25 per 30-day supply. The law further brings down consumer costs by ensuring that consumers are not charged a cost-sharing amount, such as a copay, if it would be cheaper for them to purchase the drug withSal DiDomenico State Senator out using their insurance. “People throughout my district and our state rely on prescription medication to live, which is why I am thrilled to have helped pass this law which will bring down costs and ensure individuals don’t have to decide between paying for food and rent and accessing lifesaving drugs,” said Senator DiDomenico. “I have long been a supporter of bringing down the costs of prescription drugs and I know this new law will save lives across our state. I want to thank Senate President Spilka, Senator Friedman, and all of the advocates who worked diligently to get this important piece of legislation passed before the previous legislative session came to an end.” Approximately 9 percent of Massachusetts residents have diagnosed diabetes and 6.2 per cent of adults over 35 live with heart disease. In 2015, more than 10 per cent of residents lived with asthma. Black residents face each at a higher rate – over 12 percent live with diabetes and nearly 14 percent of Black adults live with asthma. The bill drastically increases state oversight of pharmacy benefi t managers (PBMs), which currently negotiate prescription drug prices with little oversight, making it unclear if they consistently act in the best interest of consumers. To do so, the legisDIDOMENICO | SEE PAGE 4 SABATINO/MASTROCOLA INSURANCE AGENCY 519 BROADWAY EVERETT, MA 02149 Auto * Home * Boat * Renter * Condo * Life * Multi-Policy Discounts * Commercial 10% Discounts * Registry Service Also Available Sabatino Insurance is proud to welcome the loyal customers of ALWAYS READY TO SERVE YOU: Our Staff are, Emma Davidson, Jeimy Sanchez, Josephine Leone, Marie D’Amore, Rocco Longo, Z’andre Lopez, Anthony DiPierro, Darius Goudreau, Laurette Murphy, Danielle Goudreau and Tina Davidson. PHONE: (617) 387-7466 FAX: (617) 381-9186 Visit us online at: WWW.SABATINO-INS.COM
4 Publizr Home