Bill > H7587

This bill prohibits the Rhode Island medical assistance program, which provides healthcare coverage for eligible residents, and any managed care organizations contracted with it, from requiring prior authorization or a step therapy protocol for anticonvulsant and antipsychotic medications. Prior authorization is a process where a healthcare provider must get approval from the insurance program before a specific medication is covered, and step therapy protocol dictates a specific sequence of medications that must be tried before another is covered. This change aims to ensure patients can access these important medications, which are used to treat conditions like epilepsy and mental health disorders, without unnecessary delays. The bill also includes provisions for collecting data on medication spending and utilization for these drug classes, and it will take effect on January 1, 2027, and be repealed on December 31, 2029.

Budget and Finance

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