House Engrossed

State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-first Legislature First Regular Session 2013

HOUSE BILL 2400

 

AN ACT

 

Establishing the joint legislative study committee on electronic processing and uniform prior authorization for prescription drugs.

 

 

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

 

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.  Joint legislative study committee on electronic processing and uniform prior authorization for prescription drugs; membership; duties, report; repeal

A.  The joint legislative study committee on electronic processing and uniform prior authorization for prescription drugs is established consisting of the following members:

1.  Three members of the senate health and human services committee who are appointed by the president of the senate, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party. The president of the senate shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

2.  Three members of the house of representatives health committee who are appointed by the speaker of  the house of representatives, not more than two of whom are members of the same political party.  The speaker of the house of representatives shall designate one of these members to serve as cochairperson of the committee.

3.  Three members who are representatives of different types of health care insurers licensed pursuant to title 20, Arizona Revised Statutes, at least one of whom has expertise in computer systems  who are appointed by the president of the senate.  For the purposes of this paragraph, "health care insurer" means a disability insurer, group disability insurer, blanket disability insurer, health care services organization, hospital service corporation, medical service corporation or hospital and medical service corporation.

4.  Three health professionals who are licensed or certified to prescribe prescription drugs pursuant to title 32, Arizona Revised Statutes, and who are appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives as follows:

(a)  A physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 13, Arizona Revised Statutes.

(b)  A physician who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 17, Arizona Revised Statues.

(c)  A nurse practitioner who is licensed and certified pursuant to title 32, chapter 15, Arizona Revised Statues.

5.  A pharmacist who is licensed pursuant to title 32, chapter 18, Arizona Revised Statutes, who has experience in processing prior authorization requests for prescription drugs and who is appointed by the president of the senate.

6.  One member who is a representative of an Arizona non-profit organization that improves health and wellness by advancing the secure and private sharing of electronic health information and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

7.  One member of an organization that supports patients who have chronic health conditions and who is appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives.

8.  The director of the Arizona health care cost containment system administration or the director's designee.

B.  Committee members are not eligible to receive compensation or reimbursement of expenses.

C.  The committee shall develop recommendations regarding the following:

1.  The use, maintenance and effective date of any requirements for a computer process that allows for the electronic transmission and responses to requests for prior authorization of prescription drug benefits.  For the purposes of this section, facsimiles are not an electronic transmission except if an electronic computer media is temporarily unavailable due to system failure or outage.

2.  A uniform prior authorization form for prescription drug benefits that is designed to be electronically available and transmissible through the use of a computer process.

D.  The committee may use the services and expertise of the staff and facilities of the state senate and the house of representatives.

E.  The committee shall submit a written report of its findings and recommendations for legislative action on or before December 15, 2013 to the governor, the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives and shall provide a copy of this report to the secretary of state.

F.  This section is repealed from and after December 31, 2014.