Section 689B.NEW - [Newly enacted section not yet numbered] [Use of guidelines to develop step therapy protocol]1. When developing a step therapy protocol, an insurer shall use guidelines based on medical or scientific evidence, if such guidelines are available.2. An insurer that offers or issues a policy of group health insurance which includes coverage for a prescription drug for the treatment of any medical condition that is part of a step therapy protocol shall:(a) Establish a clear, convenient and readily accessible process by which an insured and his or her attending practitioner may: (1) Request an exemption for the insured from the step therapy protocol; and(2) Appeal a decision made by the insurer concerning a request for an exemption from the step therapy protocol pursuant to subparagraph (1);(b) Make the process described in paragraph (a) accessible through an Internet website maintained by the insurer; and(c) Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, respond to a request made or an appeal submitted pursuant to paragraph (a) not later than 2 business days after the request is made or the appeal is submitted, as applicable. If the attending practitioner indicates that exigent circumstances exist, the insurer shall respond to the request or appeal within 24 hours after the request is made or the appeal is submitted, as applicable.3. An insurer shall grant a request to exempt an insured from a step therapy protocol made in accordance with the process established pursuant to subsection 2 if the attending practitioner for the insured submits to the insurer a statement which provides an adequate justification for the exemption and any documentation necessary to support the statement. The insurer shall determine whether such justification exists if the statement and documentation demonstrate that: (a) Each prescription drug that is required to be used earlier in the step therapy protocol: (1) Is contraindicated or will likely cause an adverse reaction or physical or mental harm to the insured;(2) Is expected to be ineffective based on the known clinical characteristics of the insured and the known characteristics of the required prescription drug;(3) Has been tried by the insured, regardless of whether the insured was covered by the current policy of group health insurance at the time, and was discontinued due to lack of efficacy or effectiveness, diminished effect or an adverse event relating to the prescription drug; or(4) Is not in the best interest of the insured, based on medical necessity; or(b) The insured is stable on a prescription drug selected by his or her attending practitioner for the medical condition under consideration, regardless of whether the insured was covered by his or her current policy of group health insurance at the time the attending practitioner selected the drug.4. If an insurer does not respond to a request for an exemption from a step therapy protocol or an appeal concerning a decision relating to such a request within the time frame prescribed by paragraph (c) of subsection 2, the request shall be deemed to have been granted.5. If a request for an exemption from a step therapy protocol is granted pursuant to subsection 3 or deemed granted pursuant to subsection 4, the insurer shall immediately authorize coverage for and dispensing of the drug chosen by the attending practitioner for the insured.6. A policy of group health insurance subject to the provisions of this chapter that is delivered, issued for delivery or renewed on or after January 1, 2024, has the legal effect of including the coverage required by this section, and any provisions of the policy that conflict with the provisions of this section is void.7. The provisions of this section do not apply to: (a) Any prescription drug to which the provisions of NRS 689B.0305 apply.(b) Any policy of group health insurance purchased or provided pursuant to NRS 287.010.8. As used in this section: (a) "Attending practitioner" means the practitioner, as defined in NRS 639.0125, who has primary responsibility for the treatment of the medical condition of an insured for which a prescription drug is prescribed.(b) "Medical or scientific evidence" has the meaning ascribed to it in NRS 695G.053.Added by 2023, Ch. 151,§3, eff. 1/1/2024.