wa-law.org > bill > 2025-26 > HB 1971 > Substitute Bill
A health plan issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2026, that includes coverage for prescription hormone therapy must provide reimbursement for a 12-month refill of covered prescription hormone therapy obtained at one time by the enrollee, unless the enrollee requests a smaller supply, the prescribing provider instructs that the enrollee must receive a smaller supply, or the prescription hormone therapy is a controlled substance. If the prescription hormone therapy is a controlled substance, the health plan must provide reimbursement for the maximum refill allowed under state and federal law to be obtained at one time by the enrollee. Any dispensing practices required by the health plan must follow clinical guidelines for appropriate prescribing and dispensing to ensure the health of the patient while maximizing access to effective prescription hormone therapy.
Nothing in this section prohibits a health plan from limiting refills that may be obtained in the last quarter of the plan year if a 12-month supply of the prescription hormone therapy has already been dispensed during the plan year.
Nothing in this section prohibits a prescribing provider from temporarily limiting refills that may be obtained to a 90-day supply at one time if the prescription hormone therapy is experiencing an acute dispensing shortage during the plan year provided limits must be rescinded at first opportunity of a regularly reinstated, sustainable supply.
To the extent not otherwise prohibited under this section or state or federal law, health plans may apply drug utilization management strategies to prescription drugs covered under subsection (1) of this section.
For purposes of this section, "prescription hormone therapy" means all drugs approved by the United States food and drug administration that are used to medically suppress, increase, or replace hormones that the body is not producing at intended levels. Prescription hormone therapy does not include glucagon-like peptide-1 and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists.
Each health plan that provides medical insurance offered under this chapter, including plans created by insuring entities, plans not subject to the provisions of Title 48 RCW, and plans created under RCW 41.05.140, are subject to the provisions of RCW 48.43.500, 70.02.045, 48.43.505 through 48.43.535, 48.43.537, 48.43.545, 48.43.550, 70.02.110, 70.02.900, 48.43.190, 48.43.083, 48.43.0128, 48.43.780, 48.43.435, 48.43.815, 48.200.020 through 48.200.280, 48.200.300 through 48.200.320, 48.43.440, section 1 of this act, and chapter 48.49 RCW.