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Not So Different: Minnesota Legislator Discusses Bill to Broaden Biosimilar Coverage
State Representative Jennifer Schultz (D, Duluth) explains how her bill requiring payers to cover all approved biosimilars and reference products would save money and improve access.
Recently, legislators in Minnesota introduced a bill that could force health plans and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to provide equal coverage for biosimilars and reference products, removing the ability for plans to prefer higher-cost originators or limited numbers of biosimilars. The bipartisan bill was designed by Representative Jennifer Schultz (D, Duluth) and Senator Carla Nelson (R, Rochester) and was drafted in consultation with research scientists at Essentia Health and the Mayo Clinic.
We spoke with Schultz, who has a PhD in health economics, to discuss why a bill like this is needed in Minnesota and how it can help foster competition in the biologics market.
To learn more about the bill, click here.
To read the bill’s official text, click here.
To learn more about payer formulary preferences, click here.
How AI Can Help Address Cost-Related Nonadherence to Biologic, Biosimilar Treatment
March 9th 2025Despite saving billions, biosimilars still account for only a small share of the biologics market—what's standing in the way of broader adoption and how can artificial intelligence (AI) help change that?
Eye on Pharma: Sandoz Files Antitrust Suit; Yuflyma Interchangeability; Costco’s Ustekinumab Pick
April 22nd 2025Sandoz's antitrust suit against Amgen, the FDA’s interchangeability designation for Celltrion’s adalimumab biosimilar, and the inclusion of an ustekinumab biosimilar in Costco’s prescription program highlight growing momentum to expand biosimilar access and affordability for patients with chronic inflammatory diseases.
Will the FTC Be More PBM-Friendly Under a Second Trump Administration?
February 23rd 2025On this episode of Not So Different, we explore the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) second interim report on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) with Joe Wisniewski from Turquoise Health, discussing key issues like preferential reimbursement, drug pricing transparency, biosimilars, shifting regulations, and how a second Trump administration could reshape PBM practices.
President Trump Signs Executive Order to Bring Down Drug Prices
April 16th 2025To help bring down sky-high drug prices, President Donald Trump signed an executive order pushing for faster biosimilar development, more transparency, and tougher rules on pharmacy benefit managers—aiming to save billions and make meds more affordable for everyone.
How State Substitution Laws Shape Insulin Biosimilar Adoption
April 15th 2025States with fewer restrictions on biosimilar substitution tend to see higher uptake of interchangeable insulin glargine, showing how even small policy details can significantly influence biosimilar adoption and expand access to more affordable insulin.
