SB161
Health insurance; limit on cost-sharing payments for prescription drugs under certain plans.
Status:
Passed
Latest Action:
March 10, 2026
House: Conference report agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A)
Chief Patron:
Russet Perry (D)
Session:
2026 Regular Session
Summary
As Passed House of Origin. Health insurance; limit on cost-sharing payments for prescription drugs under certain plans.
Requires each carrier that offers a health plan in either the individual or small group market to ensure that at least 50 percent of all health plans offered by the carrier, or at least one health plan if the carrier offers fewer than two health plans, in each rating area ... (More) and in each of the bronze, silver, gold, and platinum levels of coverage in the individual and small group market conform with the following: (i) a plan that offers a silver, gold, or platinum level of coverage limits a person's cost-sharing payment for prescription drugs covered under the plan to an amount that does not exceed $100 per 30-day supply of the prescription drug and (ii) a plan that offers a bronze level of coverage limits a person's cost-sharing payment for prescription drugs covered under the plan to an amount that does not exceed $150 per 30-day supply of the prescription drug. The bill provides that such limits apply at any point in the benefit design, including before and after any applicable deductible is reached. The bill requires that any plans offered to meet its requirements are (a) clearly and appropriately named to aid the consumer or plan sponsor in the plan selection process and (b) marketed in the same manner as other plans offered by the carrier. The bill's provisions apply to any individual or group accident and sickness insurance policy, any individual or group accident and sickness subscription contract, and any health care plan for health care services delivered, issued for delivery, or renewed in the Commonwealth on or after January 1, 2028. (Less)-
Bill History
- 01/07/2026 - Senate: Prefiled and ordered printed; Offered 01-14-2026 26101280D
- 01/07/2026 - Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
- 01/25/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB161)
- 01/26/2026 - Senate: Senate committee offered
- 02/02/2026 - Senate: Reported from Commerce and Labor with amendment (9-Y 4-N)
- 02/04/2026 - Senate: Rules suspended
- 02/04/2026 - Senate: Constitutional reading dispensed Block Vote (on 1st reading) (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 02/04/2026 - Senate: Passed by for the day Block Vote (Voice Vote)
- 02/05/2026 - Senate: Read second time
- 02/05/2026 - Senate: Commerce and Labor Amendment agreed to
- 02/05/2026 - Senate: Engrossed by Senate as amended (Voice Vote)
- 02/06/2026 - Senate: Read third time and passed Senate (34-Y 6-N 0-A)
- 02/12/2026 - House: Placed on Calendar
- 02/12/2026 - House: Read first time
- 02/12/2026 - House: Referred to Committee on Labor and Commerce
- 02/18/2026 - House: Placed on Labor and Commerce Agenda
- 02/19/2026 - House: Reported from Labor and Commerce with substitute (14-Y 6-N)
- 02/19/2026 - House: Committee substitute printed 26108163D-H1
- 02/23/2026 - House: Read second time
- 02/24/2026 - House: Read third time
- 02/24/2026 - House: committee substitute agreed to
- 02/24/2026 - House: Engrossed by House - committee substitute
- 02/24/2026 - House: Passed House with substitute (64-Y 34-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
- 02/26/2026 - Senate: House substitute rejected by Senate (0-Y 40-N 0-A)
- 02/27/2026 - House: House insisted on substitute
- 02/27/2026 - House: House requested conference committee
- 03/03/2026 - Senate: Senate acceded to request Block Vote (40-Y 0-N 0-A)
- 03/03/2026 - Senate: Conferees appointed by Senate
- 03/03/2026 - Senate: Senate Conferees: Perry, Rouse, Stanley
- 03/03/2026 - Senate: Fiscal Impact Statement from State Corporation Commission (SB161)
- 03/05/2026 - House: Conferees appointed by House
- 03/05/2026 - House: House Conferees: Henson, Ward, McLaughlin
- 03/06/2026 - Conference Report released
- 03/06/2026 - Senate: Conference substitute printed 26109293D-S1
- 03/09/2026 - Senate: Conference report agreed to by Senate (38-Y 2-N 0-A)
- 03/10/2026 - House: Conference report agreed to by House (63-Y 33-N 0-A) Close Floor Vote
