SB1385 -We need as many groups & people to let Sen. McComish know there is wide support for this bill among patients & providers
February 4, 2012 at 9:14pm
Update: 2/17/2012: Unfortunately, Senator Smith decided not to vote yes on this bill and it died. We will try again for the Prior Authorization bill in the next session. A new number will be assigned. We need your support to show that the legislation is wanted by the pain community!
UPDATE 2/8/12: THANKS to our writing and emails… “Sen. McComish did agree to put the SB1385 bill on the agenda next week. I am going to send out an email later today when the official comes out. We will need everyone to sign in support.” Thanks for your help and support. It looks like we have 3 solid yes, 1 soft yes and 2 no votes coming next week. The person we need to concentrate on is Senator Smith (the soft yes). We need him to vote yes and know that there is community support behind this bill. Also, for those of you in AZ… there vote takes place next tues. Feb. 14th. We are looking for people who support the bill to meet us down at the state senate offices to attend the meeting. We will be gathering at 1-30-1:45pm. Please let me know if you can make it. If you want to do something and you cant make it in person… keep writing and calling! Sen. Steve Smith – stsmith@azleg.gov – phone (602) 926-5685 especially, but you can call all of them and email them again before Tuesday 2/14/12.
Feb 4th, 2012: As most of you know, there are only two more weeks to hear bills in Standing Committees in the house of origin for the state of Arizona. SB 1385 is not on the agenda next week in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee which means, at least for now, there is only one more week after that to hear bills. I think the health insurers have all talked to Sen. McComish, Chair of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, and I don’t think he is inclined to hear the bill.
In order to try to persuade Senator McComish, we need lots of groups and people to weigh in. Sen. Reagan is interested in moving the bill but she thinks that in order to get it moving we need to amend the bill to remove the language that allows the prior authorization request to be approved if the health insurers don’t respond within the five day time period.
We need as many groups and people to let Sen. McComish know there is wide support for this bill among health care providers and patient groups.
In addition to contacting Sen. McComish it would be helpful to contact the other members of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. The members of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee are:
Sen. John McComish – jmccomish@azleg.gov – phone (602) 926-5898
Sen. Michele Reagan – mreagan@azleg.gov – phone (602) 926-5828
Sen. Linda Gray – lgray@azleg.gov – phone (602) 926-3376
Sen. Robert Meza – rmeza@azleg.gov – phone (602) 926-3425
Sen. David Schapira – dschapira@azleg.gov – phone (602) 926-3028
Senator Steve Smith – stevesmith@azleg.gov – phone (602) 926-5685
Without your help and support this issue will not be heard. Please tell other groups and people who support this bill to contact Sen. McComish and the other members of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee. Thanks in advance for you assistance.
Below are some talking points on the Prior Authroization Isuee and Bill
SB 1385 – Prior authorization; prescription drugs; form
Talking Points for SB 1385
Prior authorization is a common cost containment method used by health insurers that significantly delays medication accessibility for patients and imposes high costs that negatively impact operating margins for health care providers.
In recent surveys by the Arizona Medical Association and the Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association:
At least 98% of MD’s and DO’s agreed that the prior authorization process interrupts patient care and that a more simplified process is needed.
73% of the staff spends between 10-40 hours per week obtaining prior authorization and at least 48% expressed difficulty in obtaining prior authorization on prescription drugs on at least 25% of prescription drugs.
Additionally, at least 88% would prescribe an alternate drug if it meant avoiding prior authorization.
This proposal streamlines the prior authorization process and improves access to prescription drugs by creating a standardized form for health care providers to use when making a request for prior authorization and for health insurers to accept and use when determining whether or not to approve the prior authorization request for prescription drugs.
Summary
This bill would:
Requires health care insurers and health care providers who prescribe prescription drugs to use the standardized form for all prior authorization requests beginning on January 1, 2014.
Direct the Department of Insurance to establish a committee of nine members including representatives of health care insurers, health care professionals who have the authority to prescribe prescription drugs, a pharmacist and a member of the public to develop a standardized prior authorization form for prescription drugs by September 1, 2013.
Specifies that the form cannot exceed two pages and must be electronically available and transmittable.
Specifies that authorized agents of the health care provider (employees of the provider, contract employees or pharmacists who are authorized by the provider) may confer and consult with the health insurers regarding the prior authorization request on behalf of the health care professional.
