Prohibits Medicaid from requiring prior authorization for certain HIV medications

Prohibits Medicaid service providers from requiring prior authorization for antiretroviral prescription drugs for the treatment or prevention of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

VETO MESSAGE - No. 116 TO THE ASSEMBLY: I am returning herewith, without my approval, the following bill: Assembly Bill Number 26, entitled: "AN ACT to amend the social services law and the public health law, in relation to prohibiting Medicaid from requiring prior authori- zation for HIV medication" NOT APPROVED This bill would prohibit Medicaid from requiring prior authorization for medications to treat and prevent HIV. This bill is a well-intentioned extension of a similar bill that was passed last year prohibiting private health insurers from requiring prior authorization for such drugs. However, the Medicaid prescription drug program does not operate in the same manner as private health insurance. In Medicaid, all prescriptions for HIV medications submitted to a pharmacy are run in real time through clinical editing requirements to ensure clinical criteria are met and the drug is sa...