Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Panel hears bill to bar prior authorization for medications treating opioid and alcohol use disorder
Summary
H7181 would prohibit insurers from requiring prior authorization for FDA‑approved medications for opioid or alcohol use disorder (methadone, buprenorphine, naltrexone). Providers and disability advocates said prior authorization delays treatment and risks harm; carriers raised implementation questions.
Representative Edwards introduced House Bill 7181, which would prohibit health insurers from requiring prior authorization or step‑therapy for FDA‑approved medications used to treat opioid and alcohol use disorders (including methadone, buprenorphine and naltrexone).
Lisa Peterson, COO at VICTA, testified the administrative burden of prior authorization delays access to life‑saving treatment and often diverts staff time from patient care. Describing front‑line experience, she said the…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
