Bill Text: IA HF233 | 2017-2018 | 87th General Assembly | Introduced
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to the use of step therapy protocols for prescription drugs by health carriers, health benefit plans, and utilization review organizations, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 26.) Effective 7-1-17.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Passed) 2017-05-10 - Signed by Governor. H.J. 1147. [HF233 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2017-HF233-Introduced.html
Bill Title: A bill for an act relating to the use of step therapy protocols for prescription drugs by health carriers, health benefit plans, and utilization review organizations, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HSB 26.) Effective 7-1-17.
Spectrum: Committee Bill
Status: (Passed) 2017-05-10 - Signed by Governor. H.J. 1147. [HF233 Detail]
Download: Iowa-2017-HF233-Introduced.html
House File 233 - Introduced HOUSE FILE BY COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RESOURCES (SUCCESSOR TO HSB 26) A BILL FOR 1 An Act relating to the use of step therapy protocols for 2 prescription drugs by health carriers, health benefit 3 plans, and utilization review organizations, and including 4 applicability provisions. 5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: TLSB 1420HV (3) 87 av/nh PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The general assembly 1 2 finds and declares the following: 1 3 1. Health carriers, health benefit plans, and utilization 1 4 review organizations are increasingly making use of step 1 5 therapy protocols under which covered persons are required to 1 6 try one or more prescription drugs before coverage is provided 1 7 for another prescription drug selected by the covered person's 1 8 health care professional. 1 9 2. Such step therapy protocols, where they are based on 1 10 well=developed scientific standards and administered in a 1 11 flexible manner that takes into account the individual needs 1 12 of covered persons, can play an important part in controlling 1 13 health care costs. 1 14 3. In some cases, requiring a covered person to follow 1 15 a step therapy protocol may have adverse and even dangerous 1 16 consequences for the covered person, who may either not realize 1 17 a benefit from taking a particular prescription drug or may 1 18 suffer harm from taking an inappropriate prescription drug. 1 19 4. Without uniform policies in the state for step therapy 1 20 protocols, all covered persons may not receive equivalent or 1 21 the most appropriate treatment. 1 22 5. It is imperative that step therapy protocols in the state 1 23 preserve the health care professional's right to make treatment 1 24 decisions that are in the best interest of the covered person. 1 25 6. It is a matter of public interest that the general 1 26 assembly require health carriers, health benefit plans, and 1 27 utilization review organizations to base step therapy protocols 1 28 on appropriate clinical practice guidelines or published peer 1 29 review data developed by independent experts with knowledge 1 30 of the condition or conditions under consideration; that 1 31 covered persons be excepted from step therapy protocols when 1 32 inappropriate or otherwise not in the best interest of the 1 33 covered persons; and that covered persons have access to a 1 34 fair, transparent, and independent process for allowing a 1 35 covered person or a health care professional to request an 2 1 exception to a step therapy protocol when the covered person's 2 2 health care professional deems appropriate. 2 3 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION. 514F.7 Use of step therapy protocols. 2 4 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section: 2 5 a. "Authorized representative" means the same as defined in 2 6 section 514J.102. 2 7 b. "Clinical practice guidelines" means a systematically 2 8 developed statement to assist health care professionals and 2 9 covered persons in making decisions about appropriate health 2 10 care for specific clinical circumstances and conditions. 2 11 c. "Clinical review criteria" means the same as defined in 2 12 section 514J.102. 2 13 d. "Covered person" means the same as defined in section 2 14 514J.102. 2 15 e. "Health benefit plan" means the same as defined in 2 16 section 514J.102. 2 17 f. "Health care professional" means the same as defined in 2 18 section 514J.102. 2 19 g. "Health care services" means the same as defined in 2 20 section 514J.102. 2 21 h. "Health carrier" means the same as defined in section 2 22 514J.102. 2 23 i. "Medical necessity" means health care services and 2 24 supplies that under the applicable standard of care are 2 25 appropriate for any of the following: 2 26 (1) To improve or preserve health, life, or function. 2 27 (2) To slow the deterioration of health, life, or function. 2 28 (3) For the early screening, prevention, evaluation, 2 29 diagnosis, or treatment of a disease, condition, illness, or 2 30 injury. 2 31 j. "Step therapy override exception" means a step therapy 2 32 protocol should be overridden in favor of immediate coverage of 2 33 the prescription drug selected by a health care professional. 2 34 This determination is based on a review of the covered person's 2 35 or health care professional's request for an override, along 3 1 with supporting rationale and documentation. 3 2 k. "Step therapy protocol" means a protocol or program that 3 3 establishes a specific sequence in which prescription drugs for 3 4 a specified medical condition and medically appropriate for 3 5 a particular covered person are covered under a pharmacy or 3 6 medical benefit by a health carrier, a health benefit plan, or 3 7 a utilization review organization, including self=administered 3 8 drugs and drugs administered by a health care professional. 3 9 l. "Utilization review" means a program or process by which 3 10 an evaluation is made of the necessity, appropriateness, and 3 11 efficiency of the use of health care services, procedures, or 3 12 facilities given or proposed to be given to an individual. 3 13 Such evaluation does not apply to requests by an individual or 3 14 provider for a clarification, guarantee, or statement of an 3 15 individual's health insurance coverage or benefits provided 3 16 under a health benefit plan, nor to claims adjudication. 3 17 Unless it is specifically stated, verification of benefits, 3 18 preauthorization, or a prospective or concurrent utilization 3 19 review program or process shall not be construed as a guarantee 3 20 or statement of insurance coverage or benefits for any 3 21 individual under a health benefit plan. 3 22 m. "Utilization review organization" means an entity that 3 23 performs utilization review, other than a health carrier 3 24 performing utilization review for its own health benefit plans. 3 25 2. Establishment of step therapy protocols. 3 26 a. A health carrier, health benefit plan, or utilization 3 27 review organization shall do all of the following when 3 28 establishing a step therapy protocol: 3 29 (1) Use clinical review criteria based on clinical practice 3 30 guidelines that meet all of the following requirements: 3 31 (a) Recommend that particular prescription drugs be taken 3 32 in the specific sequence required by the step therapy protocol. 3 33 (b) Are developed and endorsed by a multidisciplinary panel 3 34 of experts that manages conflicts of interest among members 3 35 of the panel's writing and review groups by doing all of the 4 1 following: 4 2 (i) Requiring members to disclose any potential conflicts 4 3 of interest with entities, including health carriers, 4 4 health benefit plans, utilization review organizations, and 4 5 pharmaceutical manufacturers, and requiring members to recuse 4 6 themselves from voting if there is a conflict of interest. 4 7 (ii) Using a methodologist to work with the panel's writing 4 8 groups to provide objectivity in data analysis and ranking of 4 9 evidence through the preparation of evidence tables and by 4 10 facilitating consensus. 4 11 (iii) Offering opportunities for public review and 4 12 comments. 4 13 (c) Are based on high=quality studies, research, and 4 14 medical practice. 4 15 (d) Are created through an explicit and transparent process 4 16 that does all of the following: 4 17 (i) Minimizes biases and conflicts of interest. 4 18 (ii) Explains the relationship between treatment options 4 19 and outcomes. 4 20 (iii) Rates the quality of the evidence supporting the 4 21 recommendations. 4 22 (iv) Considers relevant patient subgroups and preferences. 4 23 (e) Are continually updated through a review of new 4 24 evidence, research, and newly developed treatments. 4 25 (2) Take into account the needs of atypical covered person 4 26 populations and diagnoses when establishing clinical review 4 27 criteria. 4 28 (3) Notwithstanding subparagraph (1), peer=reviewed 4 29 publications may be substituted for the use of clinical 4 30 practice guidelines in establishing a step therapy protocol. 4 31 b. This subsection shall not be construed to require 4 32 health carriers, health benefit plans, utilization review 4 33 organizations, or the state to establish a new entity to 4 34 develop clinical review criteria for step therapy protocols. 4 35 c. A health carrier, health benefit plan, or utilization 5 1 review organization shall, upon written request of an insured 5 2 or prospective insured, provide specific written clinical 5 3 review criteria relating to a particular condition or disease, 5 4 including clinical review criteria relating to a request for a 5 5 step therapy override exception and, where appropriate, other 5 6 clinical information which the health carrier, health benefit 5 7 plan, or utilization review organization might consider in its 5 8 utilization review or in making a determination to approve 5 9 or deny a request for a step therapy override exception, 5 10 including a description of how the information will be used in 5 11 the utilization review process or in making a determination 5 12 to approve or deny a request for a step therapy override 5 13 exception. However, to the extent that such information is 5 14 proprietary to the health carrier, health benefit plan, or 5 15 utilization review organization, the insured or prospective 5 16 insured shall only use the information for the purposes of 5 17 assisting the insured or prospective insured in evaluating the 5 18 covered services provided by the health carrier, health benefit 5 19 plan, or utilization review organization. Such clinical review 5 20 criteria and other clinical information shall also be made 5 21 available to a health care professional, upon written request 5 22 made by the health care professional on behalf of an insured 5 23 or prospective insured. 5 24 3. Exceptions process transparency. 5 25 a. When coverage of a prescription drug for the 5 26 treatment of any medical condition is restricted for use 5 27 by a health carrier, health benefit plan, or utilization 5 28 review organization through the use of a step therapy 5 29 protocol, the covered person and the prescribing health 5 30 care professional shall have access to a clear, readily 5 31 accessible, and convenient process to request a step therapy 5 32 override exception. A health carrier, health benefit plan, or 5 33 utilization review organization may use its existing medical 5 34 exceptions process to satisfy this requirement. The process 5 35 used shall be easily accessible on the internet site of the 6 1 health carrier, health benefit plan, or utilization review 6 2 organization. 6 3 b. A step therapy override exception shall be approved 6 4 expeditiously by a health carrier, health benefit plan, 6 5 or utilization review organization if any of the following 6 6 circumstances apply: 6 7 (1) The prescription drug required under the step therapy 6 8 protocol is contraindicated or is likely to cause an adverse 6 9 reaction or physical or mental harm to the covered person. 6 10 (2) The prescription drug required under the step therapy 6 11 protocol is expected to be ineffective based on the known 6 12 clinical characteristics of the covered person and the known 6 13 characteristics of the prescription drug regimen. 6 14 (3) The covered person has tried the prescription drug 6 15 required under the step therapy protocol while under the 6 16 covered person's current or a previous health benefit plan, 6 17 or another prescription drug in the same pharmacologic class 6 18 or with the same mechanism of action, and such prescription 6 19 drug was discontinued due to lack of efficacy or effectiveness, 6 20 diminished effect, or an adverse event. 6 21 (4) The prescription drug required under the step therapy 6 22 protocol is not in the best interest of the covered person, 6 23 based on medical necessity. 6 24 (5) The covered person is stable on a prescription drug 6 25 selected by the covered person's health care professional for 6 26 the medical condition under consideration while on the current 6 27 or a previous health benefit plan. 6 28 c. Upon approval of a step therapy override exception, the 6 29 health carrier, health benefit plan, or utilization review 6 30 organization shall expeditiously authorize coverage for the 6 31 prescription drug selected by the covered person's prescribing 6 32 health care professional. 6 33 d. A health carrier, health benefit plan, or utilization 6 34 review organization shall make a determination to approve or 6 35 deny a request for a step therapy override exception within 7 1 seventy=two hours of receipt of the request for an exception or 7 2 appeal of a denial of such a request. In cases where exigent 7 3 circumstances exist, a health carrier, health benefit plan, or 7 4 utilization review organization shall make a determination to 7 5 approve or deny the request for an exception or appeal of a 7 6 denial of such a request within twenty=four hours of receipt 7 7 of the request for an exception or appeal of a denial of such a 7 8 request. If a determination to approve or deny the request for 7 9 an exception or appeal of a denial of such a request is not made 7 10 within the applicable time period, the request for an exception 7 11 or appeal of a denial of such a request shall be deemed to be 7 12 approved. 7 13 e. If a determination is made to deny a request for 7 14 a step therapy override exception, the health carrier, 7 15 health benefit plan, or utilization review organization 7 16 shall provide the covered person or the covered person's 7 17 authorized representative and the covered person's prescribing 7 18 health care professional with the reason for the denial and 7 19 information regarding the procedure to appeal the denial. Any 7 20 determination to deny a request for a step therapy override 7 21 exception may be appealed by a covered person or the covered 7 22 person's authorized representative. 7 23 f. A health carrier, health benefit plan, or utilization 7 24 review organization shall uphold or reverse a denial of 7 25 a request for a step therapy override exception within 7 26 seventy=two hours of receipt of an appeal of the denial. 7 27 In cases where exigent circumstances exist as provided in 7 28 paragraph "d", a health carrier, health benefit plan, or 7 29 utilization review organization shall make a determination to 7 30 uphold or reverse a denial of such a request within twenty=four 7 31 hours of receipt of an appeal of the denial. If the denial of 7 32 a request for a step therapy override exception is not upheld 7 33 or reversed on appeal within the applicable time period, the 7 34 denial shall be deemed to be reversed and the request for an 7 35 override exception shall be deemed to be approved. 8 1 g. If a denial of a request for a step therapy override 8 2 exception is upheld on appeal, the health carrier, health 8 3 benefit plan, or utilization review organization shall 8 4 provide the covered person or the covered person's authorized 8 5 representative and the patient's prescribing health care 8 6 professional with the reason for upholding the denial on appeal 8 7 and information regarding the procedure to request external 8 8 review of the denial pursuant to chapter 514J. Any denial of a 8 9 request for a step therapy override exception that is upheld 8 10 on appeal shall be considered a final adverse determination 8 11 for purposes of chapter 514J and is eligible for a request for 8 12 external review by a covered person or the covered person's 8 13 authorized representative pursuant to chapter 514J. 8 14 4. Limitations. This section shall not be construed to do 8 15 either of the following: 8 16 a. Prevent a health carrier, health benefit plan, or 8 17 utilization review organization from requiring a covered person 8 18 to try an AB=rated generic equivalent prescription drug prior 8 19 to providing coverage for the equivalent branded prescription 8 20 drug. 8 21 b. Prevent a health care professional from prescribing 8 22 a prescription drug that is determined to be medically 8 23 appropriate. 8 24 Sec. 3. APPLICABILITY. This Act is applicable to a health 8 25 benefit plan that is delivered, issued for delivery, continued, 8 26 or renewed in this state on or after January 1, 2018. 8 27 EXPLANATION 8 28 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 8 29 the explanation's substance by the members of the general assembly. 8 30 This bill relates to the use of step therapy protocols 8 31 for prescription drugs by health carriers, health benefit 8 32 plans, and utilization review organizations, and includes 8 33 applicability provisions. 8 34 The bill includes legislative findings that step therapy 8 35 protocols are increasingly being used by health carriers, 9 1 health benefit plans, and utilization review organizations to 9 2 control health care costs, that step therapy protocols that 9 3 are based on well=developed scientific standards and flexibly 9 4 administered can play an important role in controlling health 9 5 care costs, but that in some cases use of such protocols can 9 6 have adverse or dangerous consequences for the person for whom 9 7 the drugs are prescribed. The bill includes findings that 9 8 uniform policies for the use of such protocols that preserve a 9 9 health care professional's right to make treatment decisions 9 10 and that provide for exceptions to the use of such protocols 9 11 are in the public interest. 9 12 The bill defines a "step therapy protocol" as a protocol 9 13 or program that establishes a specific sequence in which 9 14 prescription drugs for a specified medical condition and 9 15 medically appropriate for a particular covered person are 9 16 covered under a pharmacy or medical benefit by a health 9 17 carrier, a health benefit plan, or a utilization review 9 18 organization including self=administered drugs and drugs 9 19 administered by a health care professional. 9 20 The bill requires that a step therapy protocol be 9 21 established using clinical review criteria that are based 9 22 on specified clinical practice guidelines. A step therapy 9 23 protocol should take into account the needs of atypical 9 24 populations and diagnoses. The bill does not require a health 9 25 carrier, health benefit plan, utilization review organization, 9 26 or the state to establish a new entity to develop clinical 9 27 review criteria for such protocols. 9 28 Upon written request of an insured or prospective insured, 9 29 or upon written request of a health care professional on behalf 9 30 of such a person, a health carrier, health benefit plan, 9 31 or utilization review organization shall provide specific 9 32 written clinical review criteria relating to a particular 9 33 condition or disease, including criteria relating to a request 9 34 for a step therapy override exception which might be used in 9 35 utilization review or in making a determination to approve or 10 1 deny a request for a step therapy override exception. If the 10 2 information provided is proprietary the insured or prospective 10 3 insured shall use it only for purposes of evaluating covered 10 4 services. 10 5 The bill also provides that when a step therapy protocol 10 6 is in use, the person participating in a health benefit plan 10 7 or the person's prescribing health care professional must 10 8 have access to a clear, readily accessible, and convenient 10 9 process to request a step therapy override exception. A "step 10 10 therapy override exception" means a step therapy protocol 10 11 should be overridden in favor of immediate coverage of the 10 12 prescription drug selected by the prescribing health care 10 13 professional, based on a review of the request along with 10 14 supporting rationale and documentation. The bill provides that 10 15 the request for an exception shall be granted if specified 10 16 circumstances are determined to exist and coverage for the drug 10 17 selected by the prescribing health care professional shall be 10 18 authorized. 10 19 A request for a step therapy override exception must be 10 20 approved or denied by the health carrier, health benefit plan, 10 21 or utilization review organization utilizing the step therapy 10 22 protocol within 72 hours of receipt of the request or appeal of 10 23 a denial of such a request, or within 24 hours of receipt of the 10 24 request or appeal of a denial of such a request where exigent 10 25 circumstances exist. The health carrier, health benefit 10 26 plan, or utilization review organization can use its existing 10 27 medical exceptions procedure to satisfy this requirement. If 10 28 a determination to approve or deny the request or appeal of a 10 29 denial of such a request is not made within the applicable time 10 30 period, the request is deemed to be approved. 10 31 If a determination is made to deny the request for a step 10 32 therapy override exception, the health carrier, health benefit 10 33 plan, or utilization review organization shall provide the 10 34 person making the request with the reason for the denial and 10 35 information about the procedure to appeal the denial. Any 11 1 denial of such a request is eligible for appeal. 11 2 Upon appeal, the health carrier, health benefit plan, or 11 3 utilization review organization shall make a determination to 11 4 uphold or reverse the denial within 72 hours, or within 24 11 5 hours in the case of exigent circumstances, of receiving the 11 6 appeal. If the denial is not upheld or reversed on appeal 11 7 within the applicable time period, the denial is deemed to 11 8 be reversed and the request for an exception is deemed to be 11 9 approved. 11 10 If a denial of a request for a step therapy override 11 11 exception is upheld on appeal, the person making the appeal 11 12 shall be provided with the reason for upholding the denial 11 13 on appeal and information regarding the procedure to request 11 14 external review of the denial pursuant to Code chapter 514J. 11 15 A denial of a request for such an exception that is upheld on 11 16 appeal shall be considered a final adverse determination for 11 17 purposes of Code chapter 514J and is eligible for a request for 11 18 external review pursuant to Code chapter 514J. 11 19 The bill shall not be construed to prevent a health carrier, 11 20 health benefit plan, or utilization review organization from 11 21 requiring a person to try an AB=rated generic equivalent 11 22 prescription drug prior to providing coverage for the 11 23 equivalent branded prescription drug, or to prevent a health 11 24 care professional from prescribing a prescription drug that is 11 25 determined to be medically appropriate. 11 26 The bill is applicable to a health benefit plan that is 11 27 delivered, issued for delivery, continued, or renewed in this 11 28 state on or after January 1, 2018. 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