Legislative Update: Restricting Mail Order Services

By: Mahdieh Danesh Yazdi

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In previous issues, we mentioned Bill 5502, which would prohibit insurers from requiring their patients to use mail-order pharmacies.  The legislature modified the bill to mention that the community pharmacies must provide the same price as mail-order pharmacies and not just “comparable,” as was previously written.  The language of the bill changed to assure those opposed to the measure that the legislation would not lead to higher prices for consumers.  The legislation, termed the “Anti Mandatory Mail-Order” (AMMO) bill, was sent to the governor’s desk on November 30, 2011.  Governor Cuomo signed bill into law on December 12, 2011.  Pharmacy organizations have lauded the governor for signing the bill, which would give consumers more choices in terms of how they obtain their medication.  The law will go into effect in the second week of January 2012, thirty days after being signed into law.