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Bill

HB 490

Health insurance; coverage for early refills of prescription eye drops.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Patrick Hope

Mandates Virginia health insurers cover early refills of prescription eye drops to improve medication access for patients with chronic eye conditions.

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0153)
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Bill Summary · HB 490

Legislative bill overview

HB 490 requires Virginia health insurance plans to cover early refills of prescription eye drops, allowing patients to obtain refills before their current supply is completely exhausted. The bill aims to improve access to necessary ophthalmic medications by removing barriers that force patients to wait until prescriptions run out.

Why is this important

Prescription eye drops treat serious conditions like glaucoma, dry eye disease, and post-operative inflammation—conditions where consistent medication adherence is medically critical. Delayed access can lead to disease progression, vision loss, or increased treatment costs. This bill addresses a real gap where insurance rules requiring "complete depletion" before refills can force patients to go without medication.

Potential points of contention

  • Insurance cost concerns: Insurers may argue that early refill coverage increases claims expenses and could incentivize waste or hoarding of medications
  • Definition ambiguity: The bill may lack clarity on how "early" is defined—how many days in advance can patients refill, and does this vary by prescription?
  • Clinical necessity questions: Some argue that patients should work with their eye care providers on refill timing rather than having insurance mandates, potentially creating conflicts with existing pharmacy protocols and physician oversight

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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