Bill Text - SB171 (2011)

Relative to prescription drug benefits for the treatment of pain.


Revision: Feb. 2, 2011, midnight

SB 171 – AS INTRODUCED

2011 SESSION

11-0969

01/09

SENATE BILL 171

AN ACT relative to prescription drug benefits for the treatment of pain.

SPONSORS: Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Stiles, Dist 24; Rep. Rosenwald, Hills 22; Rep. Case, Rock 1

COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services

ANALYSIS

This bill requires health benefit plans providing prescription drug benefits to provide coverage for a medically necessary drug prescribed for the treatment of pain without requiring the covered person to first use an alternative drug except an appropriate generic brand.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11-0969

01/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven

AN ACT relative to prescription drug benefits for the treatment of pain.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Managed Care; Prescription Drugs. Amend RSA 420-J:7-b, II to read as follows:

II.(a) Every health benefit plan that provides prescription drug benefits shall maintain an expeditious exception process, not to exceed 48 hours, by which covered persons may obtain coverage for a medically necessary nonformulary prescription drug. The exception process shall begin when the prescribing provider has provided the health benefit plan with the clinical rationale for the exception.

(b) Every health benefit plan that provides prescription drug benefits shall provide coverage for a medically necessary drug prescribed for the treatment of pain without requiring the covered person to first use an alternative drug to the one prescribed except a generic brand equivalent of the prescribed drug.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.