HB 459 regarding Step-Therapy Protocols, sponsored by State Rep. Matt Willhite (D-District 86) and State Sen. Gayle Harrell (R-District 25) was signed into law recently by Gov. Ron DeSantis.
This legislation requires that a health insurer publish on its web site and provide in writing a procedure to request a protocol exemption. The bill also lays out the conditions under which the protocol exemption must be granted and requires a detailed written explanation if the exemption request is denied.
Finally, the legislation lays out specific timelines that must be followed to grant or deny an exemption for urgent and not urgent care situations.
After the signing of the bill, Willhite said that the change will lead to better healthcare decisions.
“This is the second legislative session that I worked on passing this legislation; it is a great accomplishment to see it signed by the governor,” Willhite said. “Every day, we see a doctor’s decisions made about a patient’s course of treatment questioned or overturned by healthcare insurers to control their costs. This law allows for transparency in the process when an insurer requires step-therapy and helps patients and their doctors navigate the ultimate goal of improving the patient’s health. I’d like to thank Sen. Harrell for her great work shepherding this legislation through the Senate.”
HB 459 goes into effect on July 1.
