The bill amends Section 59A-22B-8 of the New Mexico Statutes to eliminate prior authorization and step therapy requirements for certain prescription drugs. Specifically, it prohibits these requirements for medications approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that are prescribed for the treatment or prevention of autoimmune disorders, cancer, cholesterol disorders, and substance use disorders. The bill allows for exceptions only in cases where a biosimilar, interchangeable biologic, or generic version of the medication is available.

Additionally, the bill introduces specific drug classes that are exempt from prior authorization and step therapy requirements, including glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. This legislative change aims to improve access to necessary medications for patients with these conditions by streamlining the approval process and reducing barriers to treatment.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 59A-22B-8