SB 17-203

Senate Bill 17-203 in Colorado stops insurance companies from making patients try less effective drugs first if they are being treated for a terminal illness or if the initial drug prescribed was discontinued by its manufacturer. The bill also requires insurance companies to have an override process that doctors can use if needed. This law is now signed into practice, meaning it's officially part of Colorado’s laws and affects all patients covered under health benefit plans in the state.

Official Summary

The bill prohibits a carrier from requiring a covered person to undergo step therapy: When being treated for a terminal condition; or If the covered person has tried a step-therapy-required drug under a health benefit plan and the drug was discontinued by the manufacturer. A carrier that requires step therapy must have an override process for health care providers. 'Step therapy' is defined as a protocol that requires a covered person to use a prescription drug or sequence of prescription drugs, other than the drug that the covered person's health care provider recommends for the covered person's treatment, before the carrier provides coverage for the recommended drug. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Votes