Virginia and Utah Legislative Sessions Just Wrapped — Here Are the Health Policy Takeaways
With the Virginia General Assembly having wrapped up their legislative session at the end of February, and the Utah Legislature a few weeks later, both states enrolled legislation that stands to have significant influences to the state of healthcare delivery and coverage and public health. In Virginia, the General Assembly enrolled HB 1724, authorizing the establishment of a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB). Under the legislation, a stakeholder council to assist the PDAB in making decisions relative to drug cost affordability would also be established. The bill also provides upper payment (UPL) limit setting authority for the PDAB but limits it to no more than 12 UPL amounts annually. Governor Glenn Youngkin (R) vetoed a nearly verbatim measure last year and has until March 24 to render a decision.
The General Assembly in Virginia also sent a package of prior authorization reform bills to the Governor’s desk for consideration. HB 2099 and SB 1215 would establish time limits (72 hours for expedited requests and seven calendar days for non-expedited requests) that insurers must adhere to for responding to prior authorization requests, require insurers to provide rationales for any denials, and require insurers to make a list of prior authorizations required available on their website, among other elements. The bill also prohibits insurers from modifying or denying a prior authorization, among other actions, once it has been approved with a determined timeline of approval.
In Utah, the Legislature wrapped up their session on March 7. The Legislature enrolled HB 81, which would make Utah the first state to prohibit any individual or entity of state or local government from adding fluoride to water in or intended for public water systems. The measure also establishes the requirement that guidelines must be developed for pharmacists to prescribe fluoride, and authorizes pharmacists to prescribe as such. Governor Spencer Cox (R) has announced that he intends to sign the bill into law. At least seven other states are currently considering similar legislation, although efforts to outright ban fluoride in water systems in Arkansas and New Hampshire have already ended with committees opting to vote down such efforts.
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The ever-evolving state health policy landscape will continue to influence how health care organizations make business decisions. MultiState’s team pulls from decades of expertise to help you effectively navigate and engage. MultiState’s team understands the issues, knows the key players and organizations, and we harness that expertise to help our clients effectively navigate and engage on their policy priorities. We offer customized strategic solutions to help you develop and execute a proactive multistate agenda focused on your company’s goals. Learn more about our Health Care Policy Practice.