Arkansas Code Title 23. Public Utilities and Regulated Industries § 23-99-1114. Limitation on step therapy-- Definitions

(a) An insurance policy shall not limit or exclude coverage under the health benefit plan for a drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration that is on the prescription drug formulary of the insurance policy by mandating that a covered person undergo step therapy if the insurance policy provides coverage for the treatment of:

(b) As used in this section:

(c) For psychosis and serious mental illness, if there is a generic drug equivalent approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration under the same chemical or generic name of a name brand drug that is available, it is not considered step therapy to allow access to and coverage for both the generic drug and the name brand drug.

(d) If a request for prior authorization is denied due to a step therapy requirement under this section, then the utilization review entity shall authorize the preferred treatment required under the step therapy if a prior authorization for the preferred treatment is required without requiring the healthcare provider to submit a new or revised request.