NCSL Prescription Drug Policy Resource Center

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The NCSL Prescription Drug Policy Resource Center is a collection of information—including articles, webpages, podcasts, briefs, and a bill-tracking database—developed specifically for legislators and staff.

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340B Drug Pricing Program and States
The federal 340B Drug Pricing Program provides access to reduced price prescription drugs to over health care facilities certified by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as "covered entities".

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Bulk Purchasing of Prescription Drugs
Instead of pooling resources with other states, some lawmakers are consolidating the purchasing clout within their own borders.

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Comparative Effectiveness to Evaluate Prescription Drugs
As policymakers grapple with prescription drug access and affordability, some state agencies are using research gained through comparative effectiveness (CE) initiatives to make more informed, evidence-based decisions.

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Copayment Adjustment Programs
As of spring 2022, laws in 15 states and Puerto Rico address the use of copay adjustment programs by insurers or PBMs to help patients afford their medications.

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Decreasing Drug Costs Through Generics and Biosimilars
Biologic medicines are created from large complex molecules derived from living cells. Although these cutting-edge technologies can be life changing, they are difficult and expensive to create.

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Diabetes State Mandates and Insulin Copayment Caps
This web page provides an overview of these strategies, including state health insurance mandates, federal mandates and caps on insulin copayments.

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Digging Into Prescription Drug Data: Affordability Boards and Transparency
New developments in prescription drugs are dramatically changing the options people have to treat their health conditions. To better understand the tradeoffs between drug prices, costs and access, legislators often look for data to inform their decisions.

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Medicaid Prescription Drug Laws and Strategies
A description of recent Medicaid federal requirements and archive state statutes that modify or reform policies affecting Medicaid prescription drugs.

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Prescription Drugs and the Approval Process
This report different types of drugs, their approval processes and related state strategies to promote accessibility and affordability.

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Prescription Drug Policy: A Bipartisan Remedy
NCSL convened legislators from across the country to discuss issues and state policy options related to prescription drug access and affordability.

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Prescription Drug Policy Trends from a Legislative Learning Group
A bipartisan group of convened in Portland, Ore., this summer to learn from experts, and each other, about state-led initiatives to address prescription drug access and affordability.

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State Drug Wholesale Importation Programs
Learn more about state resources and policies regarding drug wholesale importation programs.

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State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs
This report provides in-depth descriptions of state-sponsored prescription drug subsidy and discount programs in over 40 states, most authorized or operational, others that are now closed.

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State Policy Options and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)
Use NCSL's pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) policy map to research state laws in 12 different categories. A PBM glossary of terms is included.

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State Prescription Drug Repository Programs
This report describes programs and laws in up to 38 states that established Prescription Drug Return, Reuse and Recycling Laws.

NCSL Podcasts

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How Two States Took On the Cost of Insulin
On this episode, hear from two legislators who carried legislation in their states to help patients afford their medication.
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Role of Rebates in Cutting Drug Costs
A conversation with a Colorado legislator about her bill to ensure rebates from drug manufacturers are actually reaching consumers. We’re also joined by Colleen Becker of NCSL who sums up the legislative trends in this area.
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Shining a Light on Drug Prices
Our two guests on this episode offer perspective on the route their state took to make the price of prescription drugs more transparent.
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Tackling Prescription Drug Costs
The focus of this episode is the prescription drug market and the role of pharmacy benefit managers or PBMs.
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Database

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Prescription Drug State Bill Tracking Database | 2015-Present
Search approximately 7,000 pieces of legislation by state, year, topic, keyword, status, and/or primary sponsor.
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Articles and More

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Prescription Drug Bills in 2023: 5 Emerging Policy Trends
Over 575 drug pricing bills have been introduced in 47 states and Puerto Rico as of Feb. 28, and five topics are trending: pharmacy benefit manager policies, insulin prices, copays and deductibles, prescription pricing and prior authorization.
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Prescription Drug Policy Series
Published quarterly, these policy summaries—which include state policy options, state examples, federal action and key resources—feature topics related to prescription drugs.

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Prescription Drug Trends: PBM Reform, Affordability Boards and More
Prescription drug access, pricing and costs remain high on lists of issues bound for legislative action in 2022.
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Prescription Drugs Update: State Efforts to Boost Access and Lower Costs
An update on state legislative efforts to address prescription drug costs and access.
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Putting Patients First: Prescription Drug Policy in 2022
With the dust of the elections settling and the new year rapidly approaching, state lawmakers are developing their legislative priorities in every policy area, including prescription drugs.
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NCSL acknowledges the Arnold Ventures for their support of this publication. Please note that NCSL takes no position on state legislation or laws mentioned in linked material, nor does NCSL endorse any third-party publications; resources are cited for informational purposes only.

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Related Resources

Updated May 02, 2024

NCSL Urges DOJ to Prioritize the Removal of Cannabis From Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act

NCSL urges Attorney General and Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator to remove cannabis from Schedule I classification under the Controlled Substances Act. In August, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended that the DEA move cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance. The letter requests the DEA to quickly finish its review of the August HHS report and remove cannabis from Schedule I, per HHS’s recommendation.

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Updated April 30, 2024

State Prescription Drug Repository Programs

This report describes programs and laws in up to 38 states that established Prescription Drug Return, Reuse and Recycling Laws.

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Map

Table

Updated April 29, 2024

State Cannabis Policy Enactment Database

NCSL's new database that brings you up-to-date information for enacted state cannabis 2022 legislation in the 50 states, District of Columbia and territories.

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Database

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Toolkit NCSL Prescription Drug Policy Resource Center

NCSL Podcasts

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Articles and More

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Related Resources

NCSL Urges DOJ to Prioritize the Removal of Cannabis From Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act

State Prescription Drug Repository Programs

State Cannabis Policy Enactment Database

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