After years of debate and work on behalf of patients, Massachusetts joins the 49 other states in the nation in allowing co-pay assistance programs to be accepted for the purchase of medication. Increasing co-pays and out-of pocket expenses have made it difficult for patients to adhere to their medication, which harms the patient and drives up health care costs. This important measure will help consumers and patients.
“This is a huge win for our patients, and anyone in our state who takes medication, “ said Tim O’Leary, Deputy Director, MA Association for Mental Health, and a MassRxhelp.org coalition member. “No longer will they be forced to pay more for medication that residents in neighboring states could purchase at a discount.”
Until now, Massachusetts was the only state in the nation that banned consumers from using co-pay assistance programs to help pay for their prescription drugs. Often, this forced patients to choose between the cost of the copayment for their life saving medications and other necessities.
MassRxHelp.org thanks the many lawmakers who worked on this legislation including sponsors Senator Michael Rodrigues, Senator Michael Moore and Representatives Steven Walsh, David Sullivan and Bradley Jones, as well as the more than 50 co-sponsors of the legislation.
The coalition looks forward to seeing Governor Patrick sign this legislation into law as part of the overall budget package--finally bringing relief to thousands of Massachusetts’
