Monday March 18, 2024
WASHINGTON — The Biosimilars Council, a division of the Association for Accessible Medicines, today commended Kentucky for passing and enacting a bill that will increase patient access to lower-cost biosimilar medicines. On March 14, Governor Andy Beshear signed Kentucky House Bill 220 into law, a bill which allows health plans to encourage greater adoption of lower-cost biosimilar medicines, while preventing health plans from abusing step-therapy protocols. Including biosimilars in the Insurance Code provision alongside generics and interchangeable biologics extends patient protections and clarifies the ability for health plans and insurers to encourage adoption of these medications.
“This legislation is an important step to encouraging greater patient access to lower-cost biosimilars,” said Craig Burton, Executive Director, Biosimilars Council. “Biosimilars offer lower prices for patients, employers and states, but have been held back by brand misinformation and rebate schemes.”
Biosimilars offer safe and effective treatment options at significantly lower prices than their reference brand biologics. As a result of their lower cost, biosimilar medicines increase patient access to care and have resulted in more than 344 million days of patient care that otherwise would not have been provided.
Joining Arkansas, California and Louisiana in passing this pro-patient legislation, Kentucky is the latest state to update its laws to remove barriers to biosimilar adoption and encourage greater use of cost-saving biosimilars.
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About the Biosimilars Council
The Biosimilars Council, a division of the Association for Accessible Medicines, works to ensure a positive environment for patient access to biosimilar medicines. The Biosimilars Council is a leading source for information about the safety and efficacy of more affordable alternatives to costly brand biologic medicines. Areas of focus include public and health expert education, strategic partnerships, government affairs, legal affairs and regulatory policy. More information is available at www.biosimilarscouncil.org.
