An Act preserving access to treatment for patients with serious mental illnesses
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill aims to ensure patients with serious mental illnesses, as defined by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, have consistent access to their prescribed medications. It does this by prohibiting health insurers and utilization review organizations from imposing prior authorization requirements, step therapy protocols, or other restrictions on drugs approved by the FDA for treating these conditions. The bill also defines ‘serious mental illness’ for use in various state laws.
Key provisions
- Defines ‘serious mental illness’ based on the DSM-V.
- Prohibits prior authorization requirements for FDA-approved medications treating serious mental illnesses.
- Prohibits step therapy protocols for FDA-approved medications treating serious mental illnesses.
- Applies these restrictions to both health insurers and utilization review organizations.
- Includes the definition of ‘serious mental illness’ in two separate sections of state law (176O and 118E).
Who is affected
- Patients with serious mental illnesses
- Health insurers
- Utilization review organizations
- Individuals receiving mental health treatment
Notable changes
- Expands the definition of ‘serious mental illness’ to include a broader range of conditions.
- Specifically prohibits prior authorization, step therapy, and other restrictive protocols for medications treating serious mental illnesses.
Bill text
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Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
14 on record
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on Financial Services
Cosponsors
Christopher J. Worrell
Danillo A. Sena
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