The Patient Right to Shop Act prohibits health plans and insurance companies from blocking patients' access to consumer decision-support tools that compare prescription drug costs across different purchasing options, including copayments, coinsurance, cash prices, and mail-order pharmacies. The bill specifically prevents pharmacy benefit managers from including contract terms that would restrict third-party companies from accessing information needed to operate these cost-comparison tools, while maintaining full protections for patient privacy under existing health information laws. The legislation applies to group health plans and both group and individual health insurance coverage, affecting employers, insurers, and pharmacy benefit managers who administer drug benefits. The rules take effect two years after the bill is enacted, and federal health, labor, and Treasury officials must develop implementing regulations within one year of passage.
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