Vermont legislators are seeking to ban insurance companies or Medicaid from requiring pre-authorization before approving medication-assisted treatment.
The bills in the state House and Senate come after the American Medical Association found patients had their opioid abuse treatment delayed because their medication-assisted treatment coverage requests were denied by the insurer.
Democratic Representative Ann Pugh tells The Times Argus she wants to remove any barriers between someone with a substance use disorder and treatment.
State Department of Health Access Commissioner Cory Gustafson says Vermont may lose rebates they receive on drugs if the state ends pre-authorization.
He says the state could spend $3.5 million more if pre-authorization is removed.
Both bills have been referred to committee.
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