MS HB1602

Requires insurers to grant or deny step therapy or fail-first protocol override requests within 72 hours of receipt, or within 24 hours if exigent circumstances exist.

Allows practitioners to appeal denials of override requests, with insurers required to respond to appeals within 72 hours (or 24 hours for exigent circumstances).

Deems an override request automatically granted if the insurer fails to respond within the required timeframe.

Limits initial step therapy or fail-first protocols to 30 days maximum, with up to 7 additional days allowed if the prescribing practitioner demonstrates the medication needs more time to be effective.

Takes effect July 1, 2024.