The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a bill that allows Connecticut’s cities and towns to buy prescription drugs through the state employee health insurance plan, The Associated Press reports.
The bill passed Tuesday, 144-0. It now moves to the Senate for a vote.
House Speaker Chris Donovan, a Democrat from Meriden and the bill’s main proponent, says the legislation will help municipalities save money by taking advantage of the state’s bargaining power and low administrative costs.
He says buying drugs through the state’s plan will give cities and towns a new tool for managing their prescription drug costs, a major expense for local taxpayers.
State Comptroller Nancy Wyman recently allowed the Teachers Retirement Board, which represents 16,000 retired teachers, to use the state’s prescription drug buying power.
