October 1st Boston State House 10:00AM-1:00PM
House Bill #3780 RE: Prior Authorization of Medications

Write, call or come to the hearing. Write to Sen. Moore and tell him of the hardships of receiving your medications.

Bill Number: MA03RHB 3780 Date: 04-21-2003
BILL SUMMARY
By Rep. Kathleen M. Teahan

Requires reviewers who approve or deny prior authorization requests for coverage of a prescription drug by the division of medical assistance, to authorize full coverage of at least ten days worth of a prescription when a health care practitioner fails to submit said request; requires said reviewer to contact said practitioner by telephone, and provide them with the articulated information; requires approval of said prescription without receiving said prior authorization request when said practitioner is unavailable for a period of five days; articulates criteria for use in evaluating a prior authorization request, including, but not limited to evidence of a reasonable difference in therapeutic value between the prescribed drug and the suggested substitute; regulates notice sent pursuant to approvals and denials of said requests; directs the commissioner of medical assistance to repair bi-annual reports relative to the impact and cost-effectiveness of prior authorization policies.

HB 1288

An important bill, HB 1288 sponsored by Rep. Walsh, will also be heard Wednesday, October 1st at 10 am at the MA State House before the Joint Committee on Health Care.. If passed, the bill will ensure continuity of patient care by protecting access to drug therapies which have proven successful for patients in the Medicaid program.

Please try to testify in favor of this bill.

If you cannot attend Fax your testimony:

Senator Richard T.Moore Room 312D Fax # 617-722-1944
Rep. Peter J. Koutonjian, Room 448 Fax # 617-722-2879

Hearing Date/Time: Wednesday, October 1, 2003, 10:00 AM
Location: Room A-2 at the State House, Boston MA

Bill Number: MA03R HB 1288 Filed: 12-04-2002
Author: Rep. Martin J. Walsh
AN ACT RELATIVE TO CONTINUITY OF PATIENT CARE

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, and subject to appropriation, a payer or benefit manager shall not limit or exclude coverage for a drug that has been previously approved for an enrollee of the state's Medicaid program, provided that such drug is safe and effective for such enrollee's medical condition.

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