SB 515

Health Insurance – Step Therapy or Fail–First Protocol – Revisions

Sponsor: Clarence K. Lam (District 12)Committee: FinanceSubject: Health - InsuranceStatus: Approved by the Governor - Chapter 364 (as of Nov 9, 2023)

What this bill does

Official synopsis

Requiring certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, or health maintenance organizations to establish a certain process for requesting an exception to a step therapy or fail-first protocol; prohibiting certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, health maintenance organizations, and pharmacy benefits managers from requiring more than a certain number of prior authorizations for a prescription for difference dosages of the same prescription drug; etc.

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Testimony (30)

MGA witness list

FAV 25FavorableFWA 2Favorable with amendmentsUNF 3Unfavorable

Position	Witness	Organization	Testimony
FAV	Husser, Charles	Alliance for Patient Access	Written (PDF)
FAV	Teal, Lacey	Alliance for Patient Access	Written (PDF)
FAV	Horn, Melissa	Arthritis Foundation	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Shattuck, Daniellobbyist	Brocato & Shattuck	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Czubaruk, Kim	CancerCare	Written (PDF)
FAV	Howe, Joshlobbyist	Compass Gov't. Relations obo MD Association for Justice (MAJ)	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Howe, Joshlobbyist	Compass Gov't. Relations obo MD Association for Justice (MAJ)	Written (PDF)
FAV	Tharp, Louis	Global Healthy LIving Foundation	Oral
FAV	Peters, Sarahlobbyist	Husch Blackwell Strategies	Position only
FAV	Kindred, MD, MBA, FAAD, Chesahna	Maryland Dermatologic Society - MDS	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Chen, Steven	Maryland Hospital Association	Written (PDF)
FAV	Allen, Emily	Mental Health Association of Maryland	Written (PDF)
FAV	Maryland Chesapeake Chapter, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practition	National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners- MD Chesapeake Chapter	Position only
FAV	Long, Sharon	National MS Society	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Wood, Shannonlobbyist	National Multiple Sclerosis Society	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Forsyth, Heather	OAG/HEAU	Written (PDF)
FAV	Paddy, Michaellobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Paddy, Michaellobbyist	Public Policy Partners	Written (PDF)
FAV	Doyle, Lori	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Kasemeyer, Pam	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Kauffman, Dannalobbyist	Individual	Oral + Written (PDF)
FAV	Moran, Mary	Individual	Written (PDF)
FAV	Roberts, William	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Lam, Senator Lamlegislator	Individual	Oral
FAV	Senator Lam, Senator Lamlegislator	Individual	Oral
UNF	Celentano, Matthewlobbyist	Funk & Bolton, P.A.	Oral
UNF	Taylor, Allisonlobbyist	Kaiser Permanente	Oral
UNF	Robinson, Kimberlylobbyist	Individual	Oral
FWA	Forsyth, Heather	OAG/HEAU	Written (PDF)
FWA	a, a	Individual	Position only

Organizations on record

Alliance for Patient AccessFAV 2

Arthritis FoundationFAV 1

Brocato & ShattuckFAV 1

CancerCareFAV 1

Compass Gov't. Relations obo MD Association for Justice (MAJ)FAV 2

Funk & Bolton, P.A.UNF 1

Global Healthy LIving FoundationFAV 1

Husch Blackwell StrategiesFAV 1

Kaiser PermanenteUNF 1

Maryland Dermatologic Society - MDSFAV 1

Maryland Hospital AssociationFAV 1

Mental Health Association of MarylandFAV 1

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners- MD Chesapeake ChapterFAV 1

National MS SocietyFAV 1

National Multiple Sclerosis SocietyFAV 1

OAG/HEAUFAV 1FWA 1

Public Policy PartnersFAV 2

Registered lobbyists who testified

FAVShattuck, DanielBrocato & ShattuckRegistered for: Acorn Health; American Physical Therapy Association Maryland - APTA MD; Arthritis & Rheumatism Associates, P.C.; Associates in Radiation Medicine; League for People with Disabilities, The; Maryland Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics…

FAVHowe, JoshCompass Gov't. Relations obo MD Association for Justice (MAJ)Registered for: Maryland Association for Justice, LLC.; American Massage Therapy Association - MD Chapter; National Alliance for the Mentally Ill Maryland (NAMI MD); NexAmp, Inc.; JJF Management Services, Inc.; Maryland State Perfusion Society, Inc.

FAVPeters, SarahHusch Blackwell StrategiesRegistered for: Action Now Initiative, LLC; Alibaba; Ameresco; American Diabetes Association; Apartment & Office Building Association; Barwood Taxi Service…

FAVWood, ShannonNational Multiple Sclerosis SocietyRegistered for: National Multiple Sclerosis Society

FAVPaddy, MichaelPublic Policy PartnersRegistered for: American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; Campaign to Protect Patient Health d/b/a Value of Care Coalition; Chase Brexton Health System; Diabetes Patient Advocacy Coalition; Gaudenzia, Inc.; Gilead Sciences, Inc.…

FAVKauffman, DannaRegistered for: Amazon.com Services, LLC; American Association of Dental Boards c/o Commission on Dental Competency Assessments; Baltimore Gas and Electric Company; Behavioral Health System Baltimore; City of Rockville; Community Behavioral Health Association of Maryland…

UNFCelentano, MatthewFunk & Bolton, P.A.Registered for: 38 Degrees North; Advanced Energy United; Alliance of Maryland Dental Plans; Allstate Insurance Company; America's Health Insurance Plans; American Council of Life Insurers…

UNFTaylor, AllisonKaiser PermanenteRegistered for: Kaiser Permanente

UNFRobinson, KimberlyRegistered for: CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield; Cigna Corporate Services, LLC