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REFERENCE TITLE: AHCCCS; obesity treatment; medication |
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State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session 2024
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HB 2517 |
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Introduced by Representative Shah
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An Act
amending title 36, chapter 29, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 36-2907.16; relating to the Arizona health care cost containment system.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 36, chapter 29, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 36-2907.16, to read:
36-2907.16. Obesity treatment; medication; notice of coverage; definition
A. The administration and its contractors shall provide comprehensive coverage to members for the treatment of obesity, including coverage for prevention and wellness, nutrition counseling, intensive behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery and United States food and drug administration-approved antiobesity medication. Coverage criteria for United States food and drug administration-approved antiobesity medication provided under this subsection may not be more restrictive than the United States food and drug administration-approved indications for the use of those medications.
B. The administration may use the system's prior authorization process to determine the medical necessity for the treatment of obesity under this section if the medical necessity determinations are made in the same manner as those determinations are made for the treatment of any other illness, condition or disorder.
C. The administration shall provide notice to members regarding the coverage required by this section. The notice shall be in writing and prominently positioned in any literature or correspondence sent to members and shall be transmitted to members within the calendar year when annual information is made available to members.
D. For the purposes of this section, "United States food and drug administration-approved antiobesity medication" means any medication approved by the United States food and drug administration with an indication for chronic weight management in patients with obesity.