AR SB140

Healthcare providers must prescribe biosimilar medicines for patients starting new biological product drug therapy when a biosimilar is available, though providers may appeal through step therapy protocols

Health benefit plans must immediately add generic drugs and biosimilars to formularies with more favorable cost-sharing than reference products when the biosimilar/generic has a lower wholesale acquisition cost

Plans cannot impose prior authorization, step therapy requirements, or pharmacy restrictions on generics and biosimilars that make them harder to access than brand-name reference products

Health benefit plans must publish complete, up-to-date formularies on public websites showing tiering structures and drug restrictions, with updates made within 30 calendar days of any changes

Effective January 1, 2026; applies to individual, group, and managed care plans including state and public school employee plans, but excludes Medicaid, workers' compensation, and dental/vision-only plans