States Continue to Debate Healthcare-Related Bills

State legislatures across the country continue to debate healthcare-related legislation ranging from scope of practice to prior authorization.

Scope of Practice

Louisiana

Senate Bill (SB) 160 would increase the time frame, from 15 to 30 days, that a physician assistant (PA) is required to notify the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners of any changes or additions to his/her supervising physicians. Present law requires a physician assistant licensed in Louisiana to submit notification of intent to practice to the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners along with information regarding the physician assistant’s supervising physician.

Minnesota

Senate File 2394 would enjoin the state of Minnesota into the PA licensure compact. This compact allows PAs who meet its eligibility requirements to practice in other compact states.

Rhode Island

SB Bill 2619 would mandate that the state of Rhode Island join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact no later than July 1. The interstate medical licensure compact allows physicians who meet the compact’s eligibility requirements to practice medicine in other compact states.

Prior Authorization

Arizona

House Bill 2726 states if a healthcare insurer, pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) and/or utilization review agent approves a prior authorization for a covered service to a member and that member changes health insurance, the new healthcare insurer, PBM and/or utilization review agent must honor the prior authorization for the first ninety days of the member’s new health insurance coverage.

Nebraska

Legislative Bill 917 would make the following changes regarding prior authorization:

• Requiring health carriers and pharmacy benefit managers (PBM) to allow healthcare providers to submit a prior authorization request electronically.
• Mandating that health carriers and PBMs make prior authorization requirements and restrictions, including a list of drugs that require prior authorization available on their website.

The American College of Radiology® (ACR®) has partnered with Fiscal Note, a legislation and regulation tracking service, to provide continuous, comprehensive updates on radiology and healthcare-related legislation. To stay current on state legislative developments relevant to radiology, view the ACR policy map.

For more information about state legislative activities, or if you’d like to have access to Fiscal Note, contact Eugenia Brandt, ACR Senior Government Affairs Director, or Dillon Harp, ACR Senior Government Relations Specialist.