The bill amends Section 59A-22B-8 of the New Mexico Statutes to eliminate prior authorization and step therapy requirements for certain prescription drugs used to treat or prevent specific conditions. The newly inserted language specifies that medications approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment or prevention of autoimmune disorders, cancer, cholesterol disorders, and substance use disorders will not require prior authorization, except when a biosimilar, interchangeable biologic, or generic version is available.

Additionally, the bill introduces provisions that prohibit health insurers from imposing step therapy requirements for medications in specific drug classes, including glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists, glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide, and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, under the same conditions regarding availability of alternative versions. This legislative change aims to streamline access to essential medications for patients with these conditions, ensuring they receive timely treatment without unnecessary barriers.

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