REFERENCE TITLE: AHCCCS; obesity treatment; medication State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session 2024 HB 2517 Introduced by Representative Shah An Act amending title 36, chapter 29, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 36-2907.16; relating to the Arizona health care cost containment system. (TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
REFERENCE TITLE: AHCCCS; obesity treatment; medication
State of Arizona House of Representatives Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session 2024
HB 2517
Introduced by Representative Shah
REFERENCE TITLE: AHCCCS; obesity treatment; medication
State of Arizona
House of Representatives
Fifty-sixth Legislature
Second Regular Session
2024
HB 2517
Introduced by
Representative Shah
An Act
amending title 36, chapter 29, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 36-2907.16; relating to the Arizona health care cost containment system.
(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona: Section 1. Title 36, chapter 29, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 36-2907.16, to read: START_STATUTE36-2907.16. Obesity treatment; medication; notice of coverage; definition A. The administration and its contractors shall provide comprehensive coverage to members for the treatment of obesity, including coverage for prevention and wellness, nutrition counseling, intensive behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery and United States food and drug administration-approved antiobesity medication. Coverage criteria for United States food and drug administration-approved antiobesity medication provided under this subsection may not be more restrictive than the United States food and drug administration-approved indications for the use of those medications. B. The administration may use the system's prior authorization process to determine the medical necessity for the treatment of obesity under this section if the medical necessity determinations are made in the same manner as those determinations are made for the treatment of any other illness, condition or disorder. C. The administration shall provide notice to members regarding the coverage required by this section. The notice shall be in writing and prominently positioned in any literature or correspondence sent to members and shall be transmitted to members within the calendar year when annual information is made available to members. D. For the purposes of this section, "United States food and drug administration-approved antiobesity medication" means any medication approved by the United States food and drug administration with an indication for chronic weight management in patients with obesity.END_STATUTE
Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:
Section 1. Title 36, chapter 29, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 36-2907.16, to read:
START_STATUTE36-2907.16. Obesity treatment; medication; notice of coverage; definition
A. The administration and its contractors shall provide comprehensive coverage to members for the treatment of obesity, including coverage for prevention and wellness, nutrition counseling, intensive behavioral therapy, bariatric surgery and United States food and drug administration-approved antiobesity medication. Coverage criteria for United States food and drug administration-approved antiobesity medication provided under this subsection may not be more restrictive than the United States food and drug administration-approved indications for the use of those medications.
B. The administration may use the system's prior authorization process to determine the medical necessity for the treatment of obesity under this section if the medical necessity determinations are made in the same manner as those determinations are made for the treatment of any other illness, condition or disorder.
C. The administration shall provide notice to members regarding the coverage required by this section. The notice shall be in writing and prominently positioned in any literature or correspondence sent to members and shall be transmitted to members within the calendar year when annual information is made available to members.
D. For the purposes of this section, "United States food and drug administration-approved antiobesity medication" means any medication approved by the United States food and drug administration with an indication for chronic weight management in patients with obesity.END_STATUTE