NEW: Governor Spanberger Signs Bipartisan Bills to Cap Cost of Insulin, Lower Healthcare & Prescription Drug Costs

FAIRFAX, VA - Governor Abigail Spanberger today signed a package of bipartisan legislation to tackle the high cost of healthcare, make prescription drugs more affordable, and ensure more Virginians have access to the care they need.

At Inova Schar Cancer Institute in Fairfax - a leading cancer treatment center, Governor Spanberger signed bipartisan bills to cap the out-of-pocket cost of a 30-day supply of insulin at $35 for state-regulated plans and require insurers on the Marketplace to offer health plans that cap monthly out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. The Governor also signed legislation to crack down on prior authorizations to prevent costly delays in patient care - part of her Affordable Virginia Agenda with General Assembly leaders.

Governor Spanberger was joined at the ceremony by Virginia families, healthcare providers, bill patrons - Senator Russet Perry, Senator Jeremy McPike, Delegate Karrie Delaney, Delegate Rozia Henson, Delegate Rip Sullivan, and Delegate Irene Shin - and other state and local leaders.

"Everywhere I go, people talk to me about the high cost of healthcare, both at the doctor's office and the pharmacy counter. That's why I made affordability the cornerstone of my legislative agenda - and why we're taking decisive action to make healthcare more affordable for Virginia families," said Governor Abigail Spanberger. "These bills are a significant step forward to make sure that when your family needs care, you can get it. When your doctor writes a prescription, you can afford to fill it. And when you get sick, the cost of getting better doesn't break the bank."

Spanberger continued, "No Virginian should be rationing insulin because of what it costs at the pharmacy counter. That's why we're capping the out-of-pocket cost of a 30-day supply at $35. This is a huge deal for the 800,000 Virginians living with diabetes. These are priorities that all of us can embrace - and why I'm also proud to say that every bill we're signing today passed the General Assembly with bipartisan support."

Governor Spanberger signed the following bipartisan bills to make healthcare and prescription drugs more affordable for Virginians:

• HB1214 (Delegate Karrie Delaney) - Capping the out-of-pocket cost of a 30-day supply of insulin at $35 for state-regulated plans. Passed with bipartisan support.
• HB625 (Delegate Rozia Henson), SB161 (Senator Russet Perry) - Requiring health insurers on the Marketplace to offer plans that cap monthly out-of-pocket prescription drug costs. Passed with bipartisan support.
• HB736 (Delegate Michelle Maldonado) - Preventing costly delays in care by limiting prior authorizations. Passed with bipartisan support.
• HB328 (Delegate Rip Sullivan) - Expanding essential health benefits benchmark plan to include coverage for doula care, infertility treatment, hearing aids, and more. Passed with bipartisan support.
• HB484 (Delegate Irene Shin), SB164 (Senator Jeremy McPike) - Encouraging providers to offer more affordable care by limiting health insurance carriers from downcoding certain claims. Passed with bipartisan support.

BACKGROUND

Since taking office in January, Governor Spanberger has remained laser-focused on building a stronger, safer, and more affordable Virginia.

In March, the Governor signed legislation into law to stop predatory middlemen - pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) - from hiking up the cost of prescription drugs. Governor Spanberger also recently signed a package of bipartisan legislation - commonly known as the Momnibus - to improve and expand healthcare coverage for Virginia mothers and families, particularly women who face the highest risks.

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