Important Issues

On Tuesday, the DC Council voted unanimously to pass B25-141, the Copay Accumulator Amendment Act.

This legislation is one of the physician community's top priorities and a great victory for MSDC members.

B25-141 as introduced would require health insurers to apply discounts, financial assistance, payments, product vouchers, or other reductions in out-of-pocket expenses made by or on behalf of a member when calculating the member’s coinsurance, copayment, cost-sharing responsibility, deductible, or out-of-pocket maximum for a covered benefit.

The legislation passed the Committee on Health on March 20 and had its first Council reading in April. Last year the bill had a hearing before the committee and included multiple physicians and patent advocates speaking in favor of the legislation.

The next step for the bill is for the Mayor to sign the bill before it is enrolled and sent to Congress for a review period.

Passing this legislation in May means two major victories for physicians: passing the Copay Accumulator Amendment Act and the hearing on prior authorization legislation. MSDC members interested in learning more are invited to join the MSDC Advocacy Committee.