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Bill > HB736


VA HB736

VA HB736
Health insurance; required provisions regarding prior authorization for prescription drugs.


summary

Introduced
01/13/2026
In Committee
03/02/2026
Crossed Over
02/16/2026
Passed
04/06/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/06/2026

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2026 Regular Regular Session

Bill Summary

Health insurance; carrier contracts; required provisions regarding prior authorization for prescription drugs. Amends existing required provisions for health carrier contracts related to prior authorizations for prescription drugs. Current law requires that if prior authorization is approved for prescription drugs and such prescription drugs have been scheduled, provided, or delivered to the patient consistent with the authorization, health carriers may not revoke, limit, condition, modify, or restrict that authorization except in certain circumstances. The bill requires this limitation on carriers to apply for the duration of the authorization, which the bill requires to be a minimum of six months for initial authorizations and a minimum of 12 months for continued authorizations. The bill adds circumstances under which a prior authorization may be revoked, limited, conditioned, modified, or restricted by a carrier, including (i) a final action by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, other regulatory agencies, or the manufacturer communicating a patient efficacy issue that would affect the authorization and (ii) when additional safety and efficacy monitoring is clinically appropriate or recommended by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, other regulatory agencies, or the manufacturer.

AI Summary

This bill modifies existing requirements for health insurance companies, referred to as "carriers," regarding the process of prior authorization for prescription drugs, which is an approval process used by a carrier before certain drug benefits can be provided. Specifically, it mandates that once a prior authorization for a prescription drug is approved and the drug is dispensed to a patient according to that approval, the carrier cannot revoke, limit, condition, modify, or restrict that authorization for its entire duration. This duration is now set to be a minimum of six months for initial authorizations and a minimum of 12 months for continued authorizations. The bill also outlines specific circumstances under which a carrier *can* revoke or modify an authorization, including if the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or other regulatory bodies or the drug manufacturer communicate a patient safety or efficacy issue that impacts the authorization, or if additional safety and efficacy monitoring is deemed clinically appropriate or recommended by these entities.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0213) (on 04/06/2026)

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