To our Spondylitis Advocates: Only with your help was this possible. A new bill, SB 866, aimed at streamlining the prescription process for medications, was passed 12-0 by the California Assembly Health Committee on June 21st.

Here are the key points about SB 866:

• Currently, physicians and patients struggle to get many medications due to a very complex Prior Authorization process that includes different required forms by every health insurance plan, and sometimes multiple forms within the same plan. This makes getting the appropriate care challenging as physicians struggle to work within the current guidelines.
• Current policy allows for days and sometimes weeks to elapse before a final answer is given regarding Prior Authorization. Meanwhile, patients go without their doctors' recommended treatment.
• This bill would streamline the process - standardizing the form that all health insurance plans would have to use, making the system easier for providers and patients.
• This bill would also require a two business day response on approval or denial, and if no response is given, then it is deemed approved. This would prevent patients from going days and even weeks without the recommended treatment.

To read the advocacy alert, click here.

To read more about the senate bill, click here.

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