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

Rhode Island Hormone Therapy Prescription Bill

This bill would require health insurance plans in Rhode Island — both state government insurance programs and private insurance companies — to allow patients to receive a full 12-month supply of prescription hormone therapy in a single prescription fill. Currently, insurance plans often only cover hormone therapy in shorter supplies, such as one or three months at a time, requiring patients to refill their prescriptions more frequently.

The bill would affect anyone in Rhode Island who is prescribed hormone therapy and has insurance coverage for it. This can include people undergoing hormone replacement therapy for menopause, thyroid conditions, or gender-affirming care, among other medical reasons. By allowing a full year's supply at once, patients would need fewer trips to the pharmacy and would face less risk of running out of medication if they encounter scheduling, transportation, or other logistical challenges.

Supporters of similar policies generally argue that larger prescription supplies improve medication consistency and reduce administrative burdens for patients. Insurance companies and pharmacies would need to adjust their systems to accommodate 12-month fills rather than shorter cycles. The bill has been introduced in the Rhode Island Senate and referred to the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, where it is scheduled for a hearing. It has not yet been voted on or signed into law.