News

On Tuesday, the DC Council voted unanimously for the first time on B25-141, the Copay Accumulator Amendment Act.

This legislation is one of the physician community's top priorities and this vote quickly moves the bill towards final Council passage.

B25-141 as introduced would require health insurers to apply discounts, financial assistance, payments, product vouchers, or other reductions in out-of-pocket expenses made by or on behalf of a member when calculating the member’s coinsurance, copayment, cost-sharing responsibility, deductible, or out-of-pocket maximum for a covered benefit.

The legislation passed the Committee on Health on March 20. Last year the bill had a hearing before the committee and included multiple physicians and patent advocates speaking in favor of the legislation.

The next step for the bill is a second Council vote, likely on May 2. If the bill is voted upon without changes and passes, the legislation is passed and is sent to the Mayor.

Passing this legislation in May would mean May would include two major victories for physicians: passing the Copay Accumulator Amendment Act and the first DC hearing ever on prior authorization legislation. MSDC members interested in learning more are invited to join advocacy leadership at our webinar on physician Council issues on April 19.