Bill > SB6183

This bill mandates that starting January 1, 2027, all health plans must cover any HIV antiviral drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) without requiring prior authorization, step therapy (a process where patients must try cheaper drugs first), or other utilization management protocols, which are methods used by insurance companies to control costs and access to care. However, if multiple drugs are therapeutically equivalent, meaning they have the same medical effect, the health plan is only required to cover at least one of these equivalent drugs without these restrictions, rather than all of them. This change is being added to existing laws governing health insurance, specifically chapter 48.43 RCW, and also amends RCW 41.05.017, which relates to health plans offered under that chapter, ensuring these new coverage requirements apply broadly.