Washington health insurance plans will have to limit a person’s out-of-pocket costs for a month’s supply of insulin to 100 dollars under a bill signed by Governor Jay Inslee on Friday. Under the measure, coverage for prescribed insulin drugs won’t be subjected to a deductible, and the cap on insulin costs expires after two years. The bill also creates a workgroup responsible for analyzing why the cost of insulin has increased substantially, and to develop strategies to reduce the cost for Washington’s families and residents. Inslee signed a number of bills into law on Friday, among them an elimination of the so-called “pink tax” placed on feminine hygiene products such as pads, tampons, and menstrual cups. Another measure requires colleges and universities to complete sexual misconduct investigations and maintain them in their records. Institutions also must have potential employees declare whether they’re the subject of an investigation and explain the details. Inslee also signed a bill requiring reduction of a family’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash grant if they haven’t complied with work requirements for two months. The governor also greenlighted legislation that prohibits solitary confinement for longer than 15 minutes in juvenile detention facilities but allows room for some confinement and isolation for a maximum of four hours each day. Another new law redefines Working Connections Child Care requirements to expand eligibility to parents attending high school or working to receive a GED. It also requires school districts to allow eligible parents to have their infants on a school bus or other transportation provided. (Spokesman-Review)
