Washington 2017-2018 Regular Session Status: Passed Senate

SB 5782 — Restricting the use of step therapy by public and private insurers for drugs used in mental health treatment.

Last action — By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2017-2018 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

1 added · 1 removed

Plain-language change summary

The recent amendment to Senate Bill 5782 includes a crucial change regarding step therapy for mental health medications. Importantly, it states that if a patient has already tried and failed on a required first medication, their healthcare provider can swiftly prescribe an alternative without going through additional steps. This adjustment aims to ensure that patients receive timely and appropriate treatment, particularly in the context of mental health, where delays can adversely affect their condition. Additionally, the amendment clarifies that this policy does not prevent the use of generic drugs.

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S-1648.1SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5782State of Washington65th Legislature2017 Regular SessionBy Senate Health Care (originally sponsored by Senators Rivers and Mullet)READ FIRST TIME 02/17/17.AN ACT Relating to restricting the use of step therapy by public and private insurers for drugs used in mental health treatment;
S-1363.1SENATE BILL 5782State of Washington65th Legislature2017 Regular SessionBy Senators Rivers and MulletRead first time 02/09/17.
Referred to Committee on Health Care.AN ACT Relating to restricting the use of step therapy by public and private insurers for drugs used in mental health treatment;
or(iv) Is not in the best interest of the patient, based on medical necessity.(2) This section does not apply if a free sample of a medication has been provided to the patient.(3) This section does not prohibit generic substitution.(4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(a) "Mental health medications" means stimulants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antianxiety agents used in the treatment of mental health disorders and conditions.(b) "Step therapy" means a program establishing the specific sequence in which medically appropriate prescription drugs, including self-administered and physician-administered drugs, for a specified medical condition are covered as a pharmacy or medical benefit by a carrier.
or(iv) Is not in the best interest of the patient, based on medical necessity.(2) This section does not prohibit generic substitution.(3) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(a) "Mental health medications" means stimulants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antianxiety agents used in the treatment of mental health disorders and conditions.(b) "Step therapy" means a program establishing the specific sequence in which medically appropriate prescription drugs, including self-administered and physician-administered drugs, for a specified medical condition are covered as a pharmacy or medical benefit by a carrier.
or(iv) Is not in the best interest of the patient, based on medical necessity.(2) This section does not apply if a free sample of a medication has been provided to the patient.(3) This section does not prohibit generic substitution.(4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(a) "Mental health medications" means stimulants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antianxiety agents used in the treatment of mental health disorders and conditions.(b) "Step therapy" means a program establishing the specific sequence in which medically appropriate prescription drugs, including self-administered and physician-administered drugs, for a specified medical condition are covered as a pharmacy or medical benefit by a carrier.
or(iv) Is not in the best interest of the patient, based on medical necessity.(2) This section does not prohibit generic substitution.(3) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(a) "Mental health medications" means stimulants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antianxiety agents used in the treatment of mental health disorders and conditions.(b) "Step therapy" means a program establishing the specific sequence in which medically appropriate prescription drugs, including self-administered and physician-administered drugs, for a specified medical condition are covered as a pharmacy or medical benefit by a carrier.
or(iv) Is not in the best interest of the patient, based on medical necessity.(2) This section does not apply if a free sample of a medication has been provided to the patient.(3) This section does not prohibit generic substitution.(4) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(a) "Mental health medications" means stimulants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antianxiety agents used in the treatment of mental health disorders and conditions.(b) "Step therapy" means a program establishing the specific sequence in which medically appropriate prescription drugs, including self-administered and physician-administered drugs, for a specified medical condition are covered as a pharmacy or medical benefit by a carrier.
or(iv) Is not in the best interest of the patient, based on medical necessity.(2) This section does not prohibit generic substitution.(3) The definitions in this subsection apply throughout this section unless the context clearly requires otherwise.(a) "Mental health medications" means stimulants, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood stabilizers, and antianxiety agents used in the treatment of mental health disorders and conditions.(b) "Step therapy" means a program establishing the specific sequence in which medically appropriate prescription drugs, including self-administered and physician-administered drugs, for a specified medical condition are covered as a pharmacy or medical benefit by a carrier.
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Action History

  1. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  2. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  3. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  4. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  5. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  6. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  7. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  8. By resolution, reintroduced and retained in present status.

  9. Referred to Ways & Means.

  10. Referred to Ways & Means.

  11. Minority; without recommendation.

  12. And refer to Ways & Means.

  13. HLTH - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  14. Minority; without recommendation.

  15. And refer to Ways & Means.

  16. HLTH - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.

  17. First reading, referred to Health Care.

Sponsors

  • Mullet · Cosponsor
  • Rivers · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 1 co-sponsors · 149 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Rivers

Co-sponsors (1)

  • Mullet

Not signed on (149)

149 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 149 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

healthcare health-insurance
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors SB 5782?
SB 5782 is sponsored by Mullet and Rivers.
What is the current status of SB 5782?
This bill died with 2017-2018 Regular Session. It reached “Passed Senate” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track SB 5782?
Track SB 5782 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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