Bill > SB1672

This bill, concerning the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), aims to streamline the process for adults aged eighteen and older with serious mental illness to access prescribed antipsychotic drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Specifically, it prohibits AHCCCS and its contractors from imposing prior authorization requirements or other delays on these medications, except for a "step therapy protocol." This protocol allows for requiring a patient to have first tried and failed to respond to no more than two different antipsychotic drugs before approving a new one, and this failure must be documented by the member or their healthcare provider based on their current or previous health benefit plans. The bill mandates that any step therapy protocol must be processed electronically and in real-time, and it defines "failure to successfully respond" to include lack of efficacy, allergic reactions, intolerable side effects, or significant drug interactions, as determined by clinically appropriate guidelines and attested to by a healthcare provider. The legislation also clarifies that this applies to prescription drug coverage paid through fee-for-service or prepaid capitated contracts, does not prohibit the use of generic drugs, and allows for drug utilization reviews for patient safety.

Budget and Finance, Health and Social Services

https://apps.azleg.gov/BillStatus/BillOverview/85312