Requires the state, and private insurers that cover prescription hormone therapy, to dispense twelve (12) months’ worth of the prescription as a single prescription.

Plain-English Summary

This bill would require health insurance plans in Rhode Island — including state-run insurance programs and private insurance companies — to provide a full 12-month supply of prescription hormone therapy in a single fill, rather than requiring patients to pick up smaller quantities (such as monthly refills) throughout the year. Hormone therapy refers to medications that adjust hormone levels in the body, which can be used for a variety of medical purposes, including menopause treatment, thyroid conditions, or gender-affirming care.

The people most directly affected would be Rhode Islanders who rely on ongoing prescription hormone therapy and have health insurance that covers it. Currently, many patients must make repeated trips to the pharmacy to refill these prescriptions, which can be inconvenient and may result in gaps in coverage if a refill is missed or delayed. Under this bill, those patients would receive an entire year's supply at once, reducing the number of pharmacy visits and helping ensure they don't run out of their medication.

The bill would place a requirement on both private insurance companies and state insurance programs to change how they process and dispense these prescriptions. It does not appear to change *whether* insurers cover hormone therapy — only *how much* they must dispense at one time when coverage already exists. The bill was introduced in the Rhode Island House and referred to the House Health & Human Services Committee, which has recommended it be held for further study, meaning it has not yet moved forward in the legislative process.