Senate Labor and Commerce adopts amendment and reports SB133 on prior authorization

The Senate Labor and Commerce Committee on April 2 adopted an amendment and reported Senate Bill 133, the prior-authorization bill for health care, from committee with individual recommendations and an attached fiscal note.

The bill, described to the committee by Conrad Jackson, staff to Senator Bjorkman, “addresses the prior authorization process for medical care, which is covered by a health care insurer,” and seeks to create a process that is “easily understood by all parties,” establish approval time frames, and set specific communication requirements. The sponsor and stakeholders told the committee the bill has been developed over many meetings with providers, regulators and insurers.

Committee members considered a draft amendment labeled N.1. Jackson explained the amendment makes two corrections missed in earlier drafts: deleting specific language to clarify transparency requirements for insurers’ websites and revising the statutory definition of prior authorization to match stakeholder agreement. After discussion, Committee Chair Senator Bjorkman removed his objection and the amendment was adopted without recorded objection.

After adopting the amendment, a member moved to report the bill from committee "as amended" with individual recommendations and the attached fiscal note; there was no recorded objection and the committee reported SB133 out of committee.

The division of insurance will retain oversight authority under the bill as described in the draft; Conrad Jackson informed the committee the measure also authorizes the director of the Division of Insurance to monitor compliance and provide enforcement. No roll-call vote was recorded in committee minutes; the report was made by voice with no objection.

The committee did not take further substantive changes on the floor of the hearing. The bill will proceed according to the legislature's rules with the committee's recommendation and attached fiscal note.