AK HB144

Health insurers must respond to prior authorization requests within 72 hours for standard requests and 24 hours for expedited requests, with automatic approval if deadlines are missed

Prior authorizations for chronic conditions remain valid for at least 12 months with automatic renewal if treatment plans are unchanged; other authorizations are valid for 90 days minimum

Insurers must maintain application programming interfaces (APIs) allowing providers to electronically submit prior authorization requests and check requirements directly from their health records systems

Step therapy requirements are prohibited for Stage 4 metastatic cancer patients using FDA-approved drugs on the insurer's formulary; exceptions must be granted when patients previously tried and failed required drugs

Insurers face civil penalties up to $25,000 per violation, with the Division of Insurance required to conduct compliance examinations at least every two years; effective date January 1, 2027