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3/19/2024
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Morales legislation capping cost of asthma inhalers to be heard in committee today
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STATE HOUSE – Legislation sponsored by Rep. David Morales capping the cost of prescription asthma inhalers for the insured to $25 per month will be heard in committee today.
“Rhode Island historically has had some of the highest rates of asthma and respiratory conditions in the nation. These rates are especially high on the South Side of Providence, by Washington Park near the port,” said Representative Morales (D-Dist. 7, Providence). “Meanwhile, the out-of-pocket cost of treating asthma has risen as the price of inhalers has increased sharply in the United States. Therefore, I am proposing a cap on inhaler costs in order to ensure our communities get the relief they need at a price they can afford.”
Rhode Island had the highest rate of asthma among adults in the United States in 2021 and has consistently had higher than average rates of asthma and respiratory disease, particularly in urban areas surrounding Providence.
The average cost of an inhaler has risen sharply in the last 15 years, as new designs for inhalers have allowed drug makers to increase the price of the inhaler even as the drug inside has not changed.
Representative Morales’s legislation (2024-H 7518) would cap the cost for a covered prescription inhaler used to administer medication for an FDA-approved respiratory condition to no more than $25 for a 30 day supply. Coverage for prescription inhalers would not be subject to any deductible.
This legislation will be heard in the House Health and Human Services Committee today at the rise of the House in Room 135 on the first floor of the State House. Representative Morales encourages those impacted to share their stories with the committee, either in written testimony or in person.
For more information, contact:
Tristan Grau, Publicist
State House Room B20
Providence, RI 02903
401.222.4935
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