Federal Legislation To Limit Consumer Out-Of-Pocket Cost For Specialty Medications

On March 19, 2012, U.S. Congressman David B. McKinley introduced federal legislation to limit consumers’ out-of-pocket costs for specialty medications by requiring that copayment obligations for specialty medications are no greater than copayments for other drugs. Specialty medications are used to treat cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and inherited disorders. These medications are used by no more than five percent of the population, however, spending on these medications has been increasing rapidly. In 2009, specialty medications accounted for 21% of all U.S. drug spending. To control access to these expensive medications, some health insurers have . . .