SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Gov. JB Pritzker Monday signed a package of legislation aimed at lowering prices for prescription drugs.
“Lowering healthcare costs for Illinois families remains one of my top priorities, and I’m proud we’re advancing this mission by putting patients first,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “The legislation I’m signing today not only lowers costs but increases access to life-saving prescription drugs — because healthcare should be a right for all, not a privilege for a few. This is yet another step to ensure every Illinoisan can live a healthy life.”
House Bill 119
To ensure prescription medication can be safely repurposed for residents in need, HB 119 formalizes the legal process for donating unused prescription drugs to certified pharmacies or health departments.
By establishing a prescription drug repository program, prescription and over-the-counter medication that remain unexpired and unopened can be returned to pharmacies and reused for eligible populations.
The legislation establishes safeguards regarding the donation and receipt of donated drugs, such as prohibiting the resale or repackaging of the donated drug.
Additional guidelines include detailed record keeping for this program and an immunity provision for the recipient and manufacturer of the donated drugs. This measure is another way to help individuals who are unable to access or afford their life-saving medication.
HB 119 takes effect January 1, 2022.
Senate Bill 1682
To save Illinois consumers money at the pharmacy counter, SB 1682 requires pharmacies to provide customers with the retail price of a prescription drug, both in writing and electronically prior to purchase.
If the customer’s cost-sharing price for a prescription exceeds the current pharmacy retail price, the pharmacy must explicitly make that clear. To provide greater transparency, the legislation also removes a provision that limits consumers, who have a prescription, to only ten requests for disclosure of the retail price of prescription drugs or medical devices.
SB 1682 takes effect January 1, 2022.
House Bill 1745
In response to the national rise of prescription drug prices in recent years, HB 1745 limits the total monthly out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs.
The legislation requires insurance companies to offer at least 10% of individual plans and one group plan with flat out-of-pocket payments by January 1, 2023.
Insurance companies must offer at least 25 percent of individual plans and two group plans with that benefit by January 1, 2024. These measures will help control out-of-pocket costs for residents across Illinois.
HB 1745 takes effect January 1, 2023 and January 1, 2024.
