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Insurance committee advances bills on prior authorization, behavioral health crisis coverage and property-insurance assessments
Summary
The Senate Insurance Committee moved several health- and insurance-related bills forward May 13, including HB 1154 (limits prior authorization for certain generics), HB 909 (requires commercial coverage for behavioral-health crisis services), and HB 1187 (allows transfer of excess Citizens assessment funds); two other bills were deferred to study.
At its May 13 meeting the Senate Insurance Committee reported three bills favorable and deferred two others for further study.
Representative Glorioso presented House Bill 1154, which would prohibit prior authorization requirements for certain generic medications prescribed by qualified physicians; the bill includes a $250 cap for higher-cost generics, Glorioso said. The committee reported HB 1154 favorable with no recorded opposition.
Representative Spell presented House Bill 909 to require commercial payers to cover behavioral health crisis services to support crisis response centers. The committee adopted a technical amendment and heard testimony from Dr. Holly Howitt, assistant secretary for the Office of Behavioral Health, who described the state’s effort to expand crisis response capacity in multiple regions. After discussion the committee reported HB 909 favorable with amendments.
Representative Sawyer introduced House Bill 1187, which allows excess emergency assessment funds collected through the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corporation (from bonds issued after Hurricane Katrina) to be transferred to the Fortified Roof program now that the bonds have been paid off, Commissioner Tim Temple explained; the committee reported the bill favorable.
Chair also announced House Bill 591 would be deferred. Later, the chair said Senate Bills 511 and 512 lacked consensus and would be converted into a study resolution and deferred for further work next year. Senator Bass moved to adjourn and the committee adjourned.
Next steps: The reported bills will continue through the legislative process subject to scheduling; deferred bills will be revisited as study items.
