Yesterday, HB 459 – Step-Therapy Protocols sponsored by Representative Matt Willhite (D – Wellington) and Senator Gayle Harrell (R – Stuart) was signed into law by Governor DeSantis. This legislation requires that a health insurer publish on its website 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 no urgent care situations.
After the signing of this bill, Representative Willhite issued the following statement:
“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. Every day we see a doctor’s decisions made about a patient’s course of treatment questioned or overturned by health care 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 Senator Harrell for her great work shepherding this legislation through the Senate.
HB 459 goes into effect on July 1, 2022.
