Committee Hears Bill to Ban Prior Authorization for FDA-Approved HIV Antivirals

The House Healthcare and Wellness Committee convened a public hearing on Substitute Senate Bill 6,183, which would prohibit health plans issued or renewed on or after Jan. 1, 2027, from imposing prior authorization, step-therapy or other utilization-management protocols on FDA-approved antiviral drugs used to treat or prevent HIV.

Kim Weidner, committee staff, told legislators that utilization-management tools such as prior authorization and step therapy can delay access to medications. She said the bill would require plans, including those offered to public and school employees, to cover FDA-approved antiviral drugs without such protocols, though when more than one therapeutic equivalent is FDA approved plans would only be required to cover one equivalent without utilization management.

Senator Mark O'Lios, the bill's prime sponsor, said the measure builds on recent Medicaid policy changes and aims to reduce barriers to timely treatment. "We made this policy change for our Medicaid plans last year," he said, adding the change had "a positive impact" and that the bill is part of continuing efforts to end HIV in Washington State.

There was no in-person testimony at the hearing; the chair noted several written pro and con comments had been submitted and closed public testimony on SB 6,183.

The committee did not take a recorded vote on SB 6,183 during the session recorded in the transcript. No formal amendments or motions on SB 6,183 were recorded in the public-hearing portion of the meeting.

Next steps: public testimony was closed and the committee proceeded to consider other bills in executive session.