HF 3196

as introduced - 90th Legislature (2017 - 2018) Posted on 03/19/2018 04:45pm

A bill for an act
relating to health insurance; establishing a step therapy protocol and override for
prescription drug coverage; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota Statutes,
chapter 62Q.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

new text begin [62Q.184] STEP THERAPY OVERRIDE.
new text end

new text begin Subdivision 1. new text end

new text begin Definition. new text end

new text begin (a) For purposes of this section, the terms in this subdivision
have the meanings given.
new text end

new text begin (b) "Clinical practice guideline" means a systematically developed statement to assist
health care providers and patients in making decisions about appropriate health care services
for specific clinical circumstances and conditions.
new text end

new text begin (c) "Clinical review criteria" means the written screening procedures, decision abstracts,
clinical protocols, and clinical practice guidelines used by the plan sponsor to determine
the medical necessity and appropriateness of health care services.
new text end

new text begin (d) "Plan sponsor" means a health plan company or a utilization review organization,
as defined in section 62M.02, subdivision 21.
new text end

new text begin (e) "Step therapy protocol" means a protocol or program that establishes the specific
sequence in which prescription drugs for a specified medical condition, including
self-administered and physician-administered drugs, are medically appropriate for a particular
patient and are covered under a health plan.
new text end

new text begin (f) "Step therapy override" means that the step therapy protocol that is overridden in
favor of expeditious coverage of the selected prescription drug of the prescribing health
care provider because at least one of the conditions of subdivision 3, paragraph (a), exists.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 2. new text end

new text begin Criteria for step therapy protocols. new text end

new text begin (a) Clinical review criteria used by a plan
sponsor to establish a step therapy protocol must be based on clinical practice guidelines
that:
new text end

new text begin (1) recommend that the prescription drugs be taken in the specific sequence required by
the step therapy protocol;
new text end

new text begin (2) are developed and endorsed by a multidisciplinary panel of experts that manages
conflicts of interest among the members of the writing and review groups by:
new text end

new text begin (i) requiring members to disclose a potential conflict of interest with entities, including
plan sponsors and pharmaceutical manufacturers, and recuse themselves from voting if they
have a conflict of interest;
new text end

new text begin (ii) using a methodologist to work with writing groups to provide objectivity in data
analysis and ranking of evidence through the preparation of evidence tables and facilitating
consensus; and
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new text begin (iii) offering opportunities for public review and comments;
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new text begin (3) are based on high quality studies, research, and medical practice;
new text end

new text begin (4) are created by an explicit and transparent process that:
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new text begin (i) minimizes biases and conflicts of interest;
new text end

new text begin (ii) explains the relationship between treatment options and outcomes;
new text end

new text begin (iii) rates the quality of the evidence supporting recommendations; and
new text end

new text begin (iv) considers relevant patient subgroups and preferences; and
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new text begin (5) are continually updated through a review of new evidence, research, and newly
developed treatments.
new text end

new text begin (b) In the absence of clinical guidelines that meet the requirements of paragraph (a),
findings in peer-reviewed publications may be substituted.
new text end

new text begin (c) When establishing a step therapy protocol, the plan sponsor shall also take into
account the needs of atypical patient populations and diagnoses.
new text end

new text begin (d) This subdivision does not require a plan sponsor to establish a new entity to develop
clinical review criteria to be used for step therapy protocols.
new text end

new text begin Subd. 3. new text end

new text begin Step therapy override. new text end

new text begin (a) When coverage of a prescription drug for the
treatment of any medical condition is restricted for use by the plan sponsor through the use
of a step therapy protocol, the prescribing health care provider shall have access to a clear,
readily accessible, and convenient process to request a step therapy override. The process
must be made easily accessible on the plan sponsor’s Web site. A plan sponsor may use its
existing medical exceptions process to satisfy this requirement. The plan sponsor shall grant
an override to the step therapy protocol if at least one of the following conditions exist:
new text end

new text begin (1) the required prescription drug is contraindicated or will likely cause an adverse
patient reaction or physical or mental harm to the patient;
new text end

new text begin (2) the required prescription drug is expected to be ineffective based on the known
clinical characteristics of the patient and the known characteristics of the prescription drug
regimen;
new text end

new text begin (3) the patient has tried the required prescription drug while under their current or
previous health plan, or another prescription drug in the same pharmacologic class or with
the same mechanism of action, and the prescription drug was discontinued due to lack of
efficacy or effectiveness, diminished effect, or an adverse event;
new text end

new text begin (4) the required prescription drug is not in the best interest of the patient, based on
medical necessity; and
new text end

new text begin (5) the patient has been stable on a prescription drug prescribed by their health care
provider for the medical condition under consideration while on a current or previous health
plan.
new text end

new text begin (b) Upon the granting of a step therapy override, the plan sponsor shall authorize coverage
for the prescription drug prescribed by the patient’s treating health care provider.
new text end

new text begin (c) The patient, or the prescribing health care provider if designated by the patient, may
appeal the denial of a step therapy override by the plan sponsor using the complaint procedure
under sections 62Q.68 to 62Q.73.
new text end

new text begin (d) In a denial of an override request and subsequent appeal, the plan sponsor's decision
must specifically state why the step therapy override request did not meet the conditions of
paragraph (a) cited by the prescribing health care provider in requesting the step therapy
override.
new text end

new text begin (e) The plan sponsor shall respond to a step therapy override request or an appeal within
72 hours of receipt of the request. In cases where exigent circumstances exist, a plan sponsor
shall respond within 24 hours of receipt of the request. If the plan sponsor does not send a
response to the patient or prescribing health care provider if designated by the patient, within
the time allotted, the override request or appeal is granted and binding on the plan sponsor.
new text end

new text begin (f) This subdivision does not prevent:
new text end

new text begin (1) the plan sponsor from requiring a patient to try an AB-rated generic equivalent prior
to providing coverage for the equivalent branded prescription drug; and
new text end

new text begin (2) a health care provider from prescribing a prescription drug that is determined to be
medically appropriate.
new text end

new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE. new text end

new text begin This section is effective January 1, 2019.
new text end