HLS 19RS-713 ENGROSSED
2019 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 526
BY REPRESENTATIVE HOFFMANN
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
HEALTH/BEHAVIORAL: Prohibits the imposition of prior authorization requirements in
Medicaid managed care organizations for certain prescription medications used in
treating opioid use disorder
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 46:460.37, relative to requirements for medical assistance program coverage
3 of opioid use disorder medications; to provide for the prohibition against prior
4 authorization or step therapy requirements for opioid use disorder medications; to
5 require the listing of buprenorphine/naloxone on certain preferred drug list; to
6 prohibit the exclusion of coverage of prescriptions and services under certain
7 circumstances; and to provide for related matters.
8Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 46:460.37 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 ยง460.37. Medication-assisted treatment requirements
11 The medical assistance program and each Medicaid managed care
12 organization shall comply with the following requirements:
13 (1) The medical assistance program and each Medicaid managed care
14 organization shall not restrict prescribing of any medication by prescriber type
15 speciality, that is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration, for
16 the treatment of opioid use disorder.
17 (2) The medical assistance program and each Medicaid managed care
18 organization shall not impose any step therapy requirements before authorization of
Page 1 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-713 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 526
1 coverage for a prescription medication approved by the United States Food and Drug
2 Administration for the treatment of opioid use disorder.
3 (3) At least two formulations of buprenorphine/naloxone shall be on the
4 Louisiana Medicaid Preferred Drug List.
5 (4) The medical assistance program and each Medicaid managed care
6 organization shall not exclude coverage for any prescription medication approved by
7 the United States Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of opioid use
8 disorder and on the grounds that such medications and services were court ordered.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 526 Engrossed 2019 Regular Session Hoffmann
Abstract: Adds requirements for medical assistance program coverage of opioid use
disorder medications by prohibiting certain acts.
Proposed law prohibits prior authorization requirements for opioid use disorder by Medicaid
and its managed care organizations for medications of any United States Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) approved treatment for opioid use disorder.
Proposed law prohibits managed care organizations from restricting the prescribing of any
medication by prescriber type speciality that is approved by the FDA for the treatment of
opioid use disorder.
Proposed law prohibits step therapy requirements prior to authorization of coverage by
Medicaid and its managed care organizations for an FDA approved medication used for the
treatment of opioid use disorder.
Proposed law requires the listing of at least two formulations of buprenorphine/naloxone
on the La. Medicaid Preferred Drug List.
Proposed law prohibits excluding coverage of prescriptions and services by Medicaid and
its managed care organizations that are based upon court order.
(Adds R.S. 46:460.37)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Health and Welfare to
the original bill:
1. Prohibit managed care organizations from restricting the prescribing of any
medication by prescriber type speciality.
2. Require at least two formulations of buprenorphine/naloxone to be on the La.
Medicaid Preferred Drug List.
Page 2 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 19RS-713 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 526
3. Amend proposed law by changing the list that formulations of
buprenorphine/naloxone are required to appear on the Louisiana Medicaid fee-
for-service preferred drug list and the Healthy Louisiana Common Preferred
Drug List to Louisiana Medicaid Common Preferred Drug List.
4. Amend proposed law by eliminating the requirement that any exclusion for
coverage for any prescription medication be approved by the United States Food
and Drug Administration for any associated counseling or wraparound services
on the grounds the services were court ordered.
Page 3 of 3
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.