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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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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The Debate Over Weight-Loss Drugs
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Insulin Affordability: Where Do States Go From Here? 
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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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5 Prescription Drug Policy Trends to Watch in 2025
Among the tens of thousands of bills that will be filed in the coming weeks as legislatures return to work, close to a thousand are likely to address the cost and availability of prescription drugs.
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Growth, Volume, Price: The Skinny on GLP-1 Medications
For the 40% of American adults with obesity, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, or GLP-1 drugs, may offer hope—but the cost can put them out of reach.
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Voters Want Affordable Meds. Legislatures Are On It.
The cost and availability of prescription drugs were top issues during this year’s legislative sessions.
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The Pros and Cons of Prescription Drug Importation
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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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Pharmacy Benefit Managers: The Rebate Debate
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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.

Related Resources

Updated November 11, 2024

Forecast ’25 Special Report

From education to the environment, from elections to energy, the stories in this State Legislatures News special report offer insights from NCSL experts on what lies ahead for state lawmakers in 2025.

Civil and Criminal Justice Education Elections Energy Environment and Natural Resources Fiscal Health Human Services Labor and Employment Military and Veterans Affairs Technology Transportation

State Legislatures News

Updated March 10, 2025

State Non-Medical Exemptions from School Immunization Requirements

All 50 states and Washington D.C. have laws requiring certain vaccines for students to attend school. State laws vary regarding non-medical exemptions, for religious or personal reasons, and are presented in both a map and table format.

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Map

Table

Updated March 07, 2025

Licensure and Interstate Compacts

Telehealth care providers typically must be licensed in the state where the patient is receiving care, as well as the state in which the provider is located.

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Toolkit NCSL Prescription Drug Policy Resource Center

NCSL Podcasts

Database

Articles and More

Related Resources

Forecast ’25 Special Report

State Non-Medical Exemptions from School Immunization Requirements

Licensure and Interstate Compacts

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