31A-22-643.  Prescription synchronization — Copay and dispensing fee restrictions.

(1)  For purposes of this section:

Terms Used In Utah Code 31A-22-643

  • health insurance: means insurance providing:
(i) a health care benefit; or
(ii) payment of an incurred health care expense. See Utah Code 31A-1-301
  • Individual: means a natural person. See Utah Code 31A-1-301
  • Insurance: includes :
    (i) a risk distributing arrangement providing for compensation or replacement for damages or loss through the provision of a service or a benefit in kind;
    (ii) a contract of guaranty or suretyship entered into by the guarantor or surety as a business and not as merely incidental to a business transaction; and
    (iii) a plan in which the risk does not rest upon the person who makes an arrangement, but with a class of persons who have agreed to share the risk. See Utah Code 31A-1-301
  • Policy: includes a service contract issued by:
    (i) a motor club under Chapter 11, Motor Clubs;
    (ii) a service contract provided under Chapter 6a, Service Contracts; and
    (iii) a corporation licensed under:
    (A) Chapter 7, Nonprofit Health Service Insurance Corporations; or
    (B) Chapter 8, Health Maintenance Organizations and Limited Health Plans. See Utah Code 31A-1-301
    (a)  “Copay” means the copay normally charged for a prescription drug.

    (b)  “Health insurer” means an insurer, as defined in Subsection 31A-22-634(1).

    (c)  “Network pharmacy” means a pharmacy included in a health insurance plan’s network of pharmacy providers.

    (d)  “Prescription drug” means a prescription drug, as defined in Section 58-17b-102, that is prescribed for a chronic condition.

    (2)  A health insurance plan may not charge an amount in excess of the copay for the dispensing of a prescription drug in a quantity less than the prescribed amount if:

    (a)  the pharmacy dispenses the prescription drug in accordance with the health insurer’s synchronization policy; and

    (b)  the prescription drug is dispensed by a network pharmacy.

    (3)  A health insurance plan that includes a prescription drug benefit:

    (a)  shall implement a synchronization policy for the dispensing of prescription drugs to the plan’s enrollees; and

    (b)  may not base the dispensing fee for an individual prescription on the quantity of the prescription drug dispensed to fill or refill the prescription unless otherwise agreed to by the plan and the contracted pharmacy at the time the individual requests synchronization.

    (4)  This section applies to health benefit plans renewed or entered into on or after January 1, 2015.

    Enacted by Chapter 111, 2014 General Session

    Technically renumbered to avoid duplication of section number used in SB57, Chapter 379.