BOSTON (AP) — A bill to combat rising prescription drug costs is set to go to a vote in the Massachusetts Senate this week.

The legislation would establish a process to identify price thresholds for drugs that pose a risk to public health and recommend pricing measures to increase patient access to needed drugs.

Drugmakers who fail to comply with the process would be required to pay fees into a trust fund for a new drug cost assistance program to support patients with certain chronic conditions that disproportionately harm communities. of color and low-income communities.

The legislation would also limit out-of-pocket spending on insulin by eliminating deductibles and coinsurance, and permanently capping copayments at $25 per 30-day supply. Twenty-one other states already cap user fees for insulin.

The bill would also take steps to provide patients with better access to mail-order prescriptions and to ensure that patients can obtain their prescription drugs from the pharmacy of their choice by allowing independent pharmacists to obtain a license to dispensing specialty drugs and contracting with insurance plans to provide specialty drugs. to the sick.

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