Bill > SB990

This bill prohibits the Maryland Medical Assistance Program and certain insurers, health plans, and managed care organizations from applying prior authorization requirements, step therapy protocols, or fail-first protocols for prescription drugs used to treat specific mental health conditions, including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and medication-induced movement disorders associated with serious mental illness. The bill also establishes a process for requesting and granting exceptions to step therapy protocols under certain conditions. Additionally, the bill requires the Maryland Department of Health to report on any cost increases to the Maryland Medical Assistance Program resulting from the implementation of this act, and includes a provision to potentially repeal the relevant section of the act if the cost increase exceeds $2 million.