Bill > HB808

This bill, effective July 1, 2026, prohibits the Maryland Medical Assistance Program, also known as Medicaid, from requiring prior authorization or using a "step therapy or fail-first protocol" for prescription drugs used to treat adults diagnosed with serious mental illnesses including bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, major depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or medication-induced movement disorders. A "step therapy or fail-first protocol" is a process where a patient must try one or more less expensive drugs before a more expensive one is approved, and prior authorization is a requirement for approval before a service or prescription is provided. This prohibition applies unless federal law, specifically 42 U.S.C. § 1396a, mandates otherwise. The provisions of this bill are set to expire after three years, on June 30, 2029.