Arkansas legislation · 95th General Assembly (2025 Regular)
Arkansas SB140: TO MANDATE THE USE OF BIOSIMILAR MEDICINES UNDER HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS; TO REQUIRE A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO PRESCRIBE BIOSIMILAR MEDICINES; AND TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO BIOSIMILAR MEDICINES
Status: Failed, May 5, 2025
What the bill says
An act to be entitled an act to mandate the use of biosimilar medicines under health benefit plans; to require a healthcare provider to prescribe biosimilar medicines; to improve access to biosimilar medicines; and for other purposes. subtitle to mandate the use of biosimilar medicines under health benefit plans; to require a healthcare provider to prescribe biosimilar medicines; and to improve access to biosimilar medicines.
From the introduced text:
An Act To Be Entitled AN ACT TO MANDATE THE USE OF BIOSIMILAR MEDICINES UNDER HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS; TO REQUIRE A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO PRESCRIBE BIOSIMILAR MEDICINES; TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO BIOSIMILAR MEDICINES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Subtitle TO MANDATE THE USE OF BIOSIMILAR MEDICINES UNDER HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS; TO REQUIRE A HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TO PRESCRIBE BIOSIMILAR MEDICINES; AND TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO BIOSIMILAR MEDICINES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS: SECTION 1. Arkansas Code Title 23, Chapter 79, is amended to add an additional subchapter to read as follows: Subchapter 29 -- Mandate for Use of Biosimilar Medicines 23-79-2901. Definitions. As used in this subchapter: (1) "Beneficiary" means an individual who is entitled to receive healthcare services under the terms of a health benefit plan; (2) "Biosimilar medicine" means a biological product that is: (A) Licensed under 42 U.S.C.§ 262(k), as it existed on January 1, 2025; and *ANS115* 03-10-2025 10:27:34 ANS115 As Engrossed: S2/5/25 S3/10/25 SB140 (B) Not listed as discontinued in the United States Food and Drug Administration's Database of Licensed Biological Products, commonly known as the "Purple Book"; (3) "Brand drug" means a drug product for which an application has been approved under 21 U.S.C. § 355(c), as it existed on January 1, 2025, or a biological product, other than …
Sponsors
- (R, 27) · primary sponsor