State Health Benefits Commission, ensure, contract purchased, renewed, coverage, prescription asthma inhaler

27. The State Health Benefits Commission shall ensure that every contract purchased or renewed by the commission on or after the effective date of P.L.2023, c.105 (C.17:48-6xx et al.), shall provide benefits to a person covered thereunder for expenses incurred for a prescription asthma inhaler, if recommended or prescribed by a participating physician or participating nurse practitioner/clinical nurse specialist. Coverage for the purchase of a covered prescription asthma inhaler shall not be subject to any deductible, and no copayment or coinsurance for the purchase of a covered prescription asthma inhaler shall exceed $50 per 30-day supply, except a contract provided by the State Health Benefits Commission that qualifies as a high-deductible health plan shall provide coverage for the purchase of a covered prescription asthma inhaler at the lowest deductible and other cost-sharing requirement permitted for a high-deductible health plan under section 223(c)(2)(A) of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. s.223). The provisions of this section shall apply to a plan that meets the requirements of a catastrophic plan, as defined in 45 C.F.R. s.156.155, to the maximum extent permitted by federal law. Nothing in this section shall prevent the State Health Benefits Commission from reducing a covered person's cost-sharing requirement by an amount greater than the amount specified in this section or prevent the commission from utilizing formulary management, including a mandatory generic policy, to promote the use of lower-cost alternative generic drugs that are the therapeutic equivalent of the brand-name drug, which could result in the member's copay being higher than set forth in this section.