Assembly Bill 246 mandates that health insurance policies and plans providing coverage for prescription drugs must also cover prescription drugs and related medical supplies for asthma treatment. The bill defines related medical supplies to include asthma inhalers and other necessary items for administering prescribed asthma medications. It establishes a cost-sharing cap of no more than $25 for each one-month supply of prescribed asthma medication and a maximum of $50 per month for all related medical supplies. Importantly, these cost-sharing limits cannot increase based on the number of conditions treated, and the coverage is exempt from any deductibles, unless such exemptions would affect eligibility for health savings accounts under federal law.

The bill creates new statutory sections, specifically 609.835 and 632.895 (16g), which outline the coverage requirements and cost-sharing limitations for disability insurance policies and self-insured health plans at various governmental levels. It also includes provisions for initial applicability, stating that the act will apply to policy or plan years beginning on the effective date, with specific considerations for collective bargaining agreements. The act is set to take effect four months after publication.