Protect Access to Medications

For Texans living with complex chronic or progressive diseases, it can take months or even years to find a treatment that works effectively with manageable side effects. But sometimes, arbitrary insurance policy changes at the beginning of a new plan year – such as formulary changes, higher copays, or new prior authorization requirements – can force these Texans to forgo the treatments they depend upon. When insurance companies change the rules and push patients off prescribed treatments that are working well, those consumers may experience a recurrence of symptoms, further disease progression, missed work and family time, and even hospitalization.

HB 1646 (Lambert) will limit these insurance practices—known as non-medical switching or drug switching—allowing Texans to stay on the medications that work best for them.

HB 1646 passed the House and now needs to be scheduled for a hearing in Senate Business & Commerce. Contact the members of this committee and ask them to support HB 1646.