State Representative Christine Barber, D-34th Middlesex

The Massachusetts Legislature passed An Act relative to pharmaceutical access, costs and transparency, which protects patients and makes prescription drugs more affordable. A provision that caps copays for people with chronic conditions, filed by Representative Christine Barber (D-34th Middlesex) of Somerville and Medford, was included in the final bill.

“Prescription drugs cure disease, manage chronic illness, and are life-saving for many. Yet prescription drugs do not work if people cannot afford them. Our neighbors should not have to choose between picking up their prescription and picking up groceries,” said Rep. Barber.

This new law will reduce copays for people with diabetes, asthma, and heart disease, three chronic conditions that disproportionately impact people of color and low-income communities. For generic medication for each of these conditions, all copays will be eliminated. For a designated brand name medication for these conditions, including insulin, copays will be capped at $25.

When people cannot access critical preventive care, the likelihood of visiting the emergency room for care increases drastically. These affordability challenges are a significant health equity issue. Black and Latinx residents in Massachusetts are more likely to cut pills in half, skip a dose, or not fill a prescription due to cost (36%) than white residents (19%), putting them at greater risk for health complications.

The new law also addresses prescription drug costs by: allowing the state to regulate pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs); increasing transparency into PBMs and drug manufacturers by providing data to the Health Policy Commission (HPC) and the Center for Health Information and Analysis (CHIA); and by requiring pharmacists to inform consumers if purchasing a drug at retail price would be cheaper than using insurance.

Reducing copays for prescription drugs provides direct relief to patients and ensures that people can afford the care they need. This bill was signed into law by Governor Healey on January 8, 2025.

— Office of State Representative Christine Barber