The bill aims to reduce prescription drug costs by enhancing access to biosimilar medicines, which are approved under the same FDA standards as their reference drugs. It introduces a new section that emphasizes the importance of eliminating barriers to accessing these cost-effective alternatives. The bill amends several existing laws, including RCW 48.43.420, to require health carriers to provide a clear and accessible process for patients and prescribing practitioners to request exceptions to prescription drug utilization management. This includes stipulations for timely responses to exception requests, coverage for emergency supply fills, and the requirement for health carriers to disclose all relevant rules and criteria related to the utilization management process.

Additionally, the bill modifies RCW 69.41.120 and RCW 69.41.125 to allow pharmacists to select biosimilars or interchangeable biological products when filling prescriptions, provided that the substitution does not conflict with the prescriber's instructions. It mandates that the substitution should aim to lower out-of-pocket costs for patients and requires pharmacists to communicate the name of the dispensed drug product clearly. The bill also ensures that pharmacists retain records of prescriptions for a specified duration, thereby promoting transparency and accountability in the dispensing of medications.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 48.43.420, 41.05.410, 69.41.120, 18.64.245