§1053. Requirement for coverage of step therapy or fail first protocols

            A.(1) Any health coverage plan specified in Subsection L of this Section which includes prescription benefits as part of its policy or contract, which utilizes step therapy or fail first protocols, and which is issued for delivery, delivered, renewed, or otherwise contracted for in this state shall comply with the provisions of this Section.

            (2) The provisions of this Section shall not be construed to prohibit the substitution of an AB-rated generic equivalent, biosimilar, or interchangeable biological product as designated by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

            B.(1) Any step therapy or fail first protocol established by a health coverage plan shall consider clinical review criteria and clinical practice guidelines that are developed and endorsed by a multidisciplinary panel of experts who manage conflicts of interest among the members of writing and review groups by doing all of the following:

            (a) Requiring members to disclose any potential conflicts of interest with health coverage plans or pharmaceutical manufacturers and to recuse themselves from voting if they have a conflict of interest.

            (b) 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.

            (c) Offering opportunities for public review and comments.

            (d) Creating an explicit and transparent decisionmaking process.

            (e) Basing decisions on high quality studies, research, peer-reviewed publications, and medical practice.

            (f) Minimizing biases and conflicts of interest.

            (g) Explaining the relationship between treatment options and outcomes.

            (h) Rating the quality of the evidence supporting recommendations.

            (i) Considering relevant patient subgroups and preferences.

            (j) Considering the needs of atypical patient populations and diagnoses when establishing clinical review criteria.

            (k) Recommending that the prescription drugs be taken in the specific sequence required by the step therapy protocol.

            (l)(i) Continuously reviewing new evidence, research, and newly developed treatments to update the clinical review criteria and clinical practice guidelines.

            (ii) If clinical practice guidelines are not reasonably available, any step therapy or fail first protocol established by a health coverage plan shall consider peer-reviewed publications or expert guidance from independent experts, which may include practitioners with expertise applicable to the relevant health condition.

            (2) This Subsection shall not be construed to require health coverage plans to establish a new entity to develop clinical review criteria used for step therapy or fail first protocols. 

            C. When medications for the treatment of any medical condition are restricted for use by any health coverage plan through a step therapy or fail first protocol, the prescribing practitioner shall have access to a clear and convenient process to expeditiously request an override of the restriction. The override process shall be made easily accessible on the health coverage plan's website. An override of the restriction shall be expeditiously granted by the health coverage plan if the prescribing practitioner, using sound clinical evidence, can demonstrate any of the following:

            (1) The preferred treatment required under the step therapy or fail first protocol has been ineffective in the treatment of the patient's disease or medical condition. The prescribing practitioner shall demonstrate to the health coverage plan that the patient has tried the required prescription drug while under his current or a previous health insurance or health coverage 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.

            (2) The preferred treatment required under the step therapy or fail first protocol is reasonably expected to be ineffective based on the known relevant physical or mental characteristics and medical history of the patient and known characteristics of the drug regimen.

            (3) The preferred treatment required under the step therapy or fail first protocol is contraindicated or will likely cause an adverse reaction or physical or mental harm to the patient.

            (4) The patient is currently receiving a positive therapeutic outcome on a prescription drug for the medical condition under consideration if, while on his current health coverage plan or the immediately preceding health coverage plan, the patient received coverage for the prescription drug.

            (5) The required prescription drug is not in the best interest of the patient based on medical necessity as evidenced by valid documentation submitted by the prescriber.

            D. Approval of a step therapy or fail first protocol override request, when issued by a health coverage plan, shall include clear authorization of coverage for the prescription drug prescribed by the patient's prescribing practitioner, provided the drug is covered under the health coverage plan.

            E. Denial of a step therapy or fail first protocol override request shall not be considered a final adverse determination and shall be eligible for an appeal of coverage determination pursuant to R.S. 22:2401.

            F. A health coverage plan shall approve or deny a step therapy or fail first protocol override request within seventy-two hours of receipt. In cases where exigent circumstances exist, a health coverage plan shall approve or deny a step therapy or fail first protocol override request within twenty-four hours of receipt. If a health coverage plan fails to comply with the timelines provided for in this Subsection, the override request shall be considered approved.

            G. In the case of a denial, the health coverage plan shall provide the patient and the prescribing practitioner with the reason for the denial, an alternative covered medication, if applicable, and information regarding the procedure for submitting an appeal to the denial.

            H. In the case of an appeal, the practitioner or, if appropriate, other healthcare provider deciding the appeal shall consider atypical diagnoses and the needs of atypical patient populations.

            I. The duration of any step therapy or fail first protocol shall not be longer than the customary period for the medication when the treatment is demonstrated by the prescribing practitioner to be clinically ineffective. When the health coverage plan can demonstrate, through sound clinical evidence, that the originally prescribed medication is likely to require more than the customary period for the medication to provide any relief or an amelioration to the patient, the step therapy or fail first protocol may be extended for an additional period of time no longer than the original customary period for the medication.

            J.(1) No health coverage plan shall use step therapy or fail first protocols as the basis to restrict any prescription benefit for the treatment of stage-four advanced, metastatic cancer or associated conditions if at least one of the following criteria is met:

            (a) The prescribed drug or drug regimen has the United States Food and Drug Administration approved indication.

            (b) The prescribed drug or drug regimen has the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Drugs and Biologics Compendium indication.

            (c) The prescribed drug or drug regimen is supported by peer-reviewed, evidenced-based medical literature.

            (2) The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply if the preferred drug or drug regimen is considered clinically equivalent for therapy, contains the identical active ingredient or ingredients, and is proven to have the same efficacy. For purposes of this Subsection, different salts proven to have the same efficacy shall not be considered as different active ingredients.

            (3) For drugs prescribed for associated conditions as defined in this Section, the treating healthcare provider shall inform the health coverage plan that the condition is a condition associated with stage-four advanced, metastatic cancer when requesting authorization.

            K.(1) If a prescribed drug is denied by a health coverage plan based upon step therapy or fail first protocols, the health coverage plan shall provide the prescriber with a list of the alternative comparable formulary medications in writing and attached to the letter of denial of prescription drug coverage.

            (2) It shall be deemed sufficient to meet the requirements of this Subsection if a health coverage plan includes the information required by this Subsection in the denial letter sent by the health coverage plan or its agent. For any request made by providers utilizing electronic health records with capabilities, the notice may be sent electronically.

            (3) Simple notification of the availability and location of the formulary shall not be deemed sufficient to meet the requirements of this Subsection.

            L. As used in this Section, the following definitions shall apply:

            (1) "Health coverage plan" means:

            (a) An individual or group plan or program which is established by contract, certificate, law, plan, policy, subscriber agreement, or by any other method and which is entered into, issued, or offered for the purpose of arranging for, delivering, paying for, providing, or reimbursing any of the costs of health or medical care, including pharmacy services, drugs, or devices.

            (b) Any hospital, health, or medical expense insurance policy, hospital or medical service contract, employee welfare benefit plan, contract or agreement with a health maintenance organization or a preferred provider organization, health and accident insurance policy, or any other insurance contract of this type, including a group insurance plan and the Office of Group Benefits programs.

            (c) Any plan that is subject to the provisions of this Section which is administered by a pharmacy benefit manager.

            (2) "Stage-four advanced, metastatic cancer" means cancer that has spread from the lymph nodes or other areas or parts of the body and "associated conditions" means the symptoms or side effects associated with stage-four advanced, metastatic cancer or its treatment.

            Acts 2010, No. 884, §1; Acts 2011, No. 144, §1; Acts 2019, No. 120, §1, eff. June 5, 2019; Acts 2019, No. 206, §1, eff. Jan. 1, 2020; Acts 2020, No. 181, §1, eff. June 11, 2020; Acts 2023, No. 125, §1.