// STATE LEGISLATION TRACKER
Rhode Island HB 8245: AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE -- ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE POLICIES
โ๏ธ MIXED for peptide users
๐ค MEDIUM user impact
๐ Status: In committee
- State
- Rhode Island
- Bill
- HB 8245
- Session
- 2026
- Filed
- 2026-03-06
- Read the bill
- OpenStates โ
- Last reviewed
- 2026-10-05
Plain-English Summary
This Rhode Island bill requires state and private insurers covering prescription hormone therapy to dispense a 12-month supply as a single prescription. It excludes certain diabetes medications like GLP-1 agonists from this definition of hormone therapy. The bill also specifies that health plans must provide reimbursement for up to a 365-day supply of covered prescription hormone therapy at one time, unless the enrollee requests a smaller amount, their doctor advises it, or the medication is a controlled substance.
Key Points
- Insurers must cover 12-month hormone therapy prescriptions as one fill.
- GLP-1 agonists are excluded from the definition of hormone therapy.
- Patients may receive up to a 365-day supply of hormone therapy at once.
- Controlled substances have different refill limits.
- This applies to state and private insurance plans.
What to Watch For
Concern
Potential for increased upfront costs for patients if insurance coverage is limited or requires prior authorization for extended supplies.
Note
The definition of 'prescription hormone therapy' excludes specific diabetes medications, which may impact access for some patients.
Note
The bill's effective date and specific implementation details for insurers will be important to monitor.
Opportunity
May streamline access to hormone therapy by reducing the need for frequent prescription renewals.
Where the Bill Stands
The bill has been recommended by a committee to be held for further study.
ยท Ed. Our analysis pulls public bill metadata from OpenStates and is enriched with research-model context. We don't quote bill text we haven't read directly. If this bill matters to your practice or treatment access, read the official source linked above before taking action. We're an educational research directory, not a legal or medical reference.
Bill page generated 2026-11-05 ยท enriched via codex gpt-5.5
Source: OpenStates v3 API ยท View official bill ยท โ back to all laws
Source: OpenStates v3 API ยท View official bill ยท โ back to all laws