70.922 Transparency at the pharmacy counter – Let patients own their prescriptions.
The Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) supports legislation and/or regulation that enhances transparency in pharmacy drug costs, and availability, as well as alteration of the physician’s original prescription.
MSSNY supports legislation and/or regulation to establish a mechanism for prescribers and patients to easily view the out-of-pocket insurance cost of drugs and price comparisons and availability between local pharmacies at the point of prescribing.
MSSNY urges lawmakers and regulatory bodies to collaborate with relevant stakeholders, including prescribers, pharmacists, and patient advocacy groups, to develop and implement policies that ensure the availability of accurate, real-time informational tools on drug prices for patients.
MSSNY will advocate legislation that would mandate that pharmacies, whether physical or mail-order, must inform the patient about the actual dose, duration, and number of units prescribed (number of pills, days of treatment, grams of cream, etc); inform patients about the option of purchasing the prescribed medications out-of-pocket and to provide the associated out-of-pocket costs when insurance does not cover or covers only part of the prescribed regimen; provide a reason for dispensing deviation from the prescribed dose, duration and number of units; whenever relevant pharmacy must include reference to insurance imposed limits or pharmacy impose limits. (HOD 2024 – 105 and 107)
