Prescription medication — Maximum charge at point of sale — Requirements.
RCW 48.43.430
in effect(1) Beginning January 1, 2021, the maximum amount a health carrier or pharmacy benefit manager may require a person to pay at the point of sale for a covered prescription medication is the lesser of: (a) The applicable cost sharing for the prescription medication; or (b) The amount the person would pay for the prescription medication if the person purchased the prescription medication without using a health plan. (2) A health carrier or pharmacy benefit manager may not require a pharmacist to dispense a brand name prescription medication when a less expensive therapeutically equivalent generic prescription medication is available. (3) For purposes of this section, "pharmacy benefit manager" has the same meaning as in *RCW 19.340.010 .
(1) Beginning January 1, 2021, the maximum amount a health carrier or pharmacy benefit manager may require a person to pay at the point of sale for a covered prescription medication is the lesser of:
(a) The applicable cost sharing for the prescription medication; or
(b) The amount the person would pay for the prescription medication if the person purchased the prescription medication without using a health plan.
(2) A health carrier or pharmacy benefit manager may not require a pharmacist to dispense a brand name prescription medication when a less expensive therapeutically equivalent generic prescription medication is available.
(3) For purposes of this section, "pharmacy benefit manager" has the same meaning as in *RCW 19.340.010 .
Source: WA Statutes (Official Site)URL: https://app.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=48.43&full=trueFetched: 6/29/2026