SB 268 - This act will require health benefit plans to provide coverage for any drugs prescribed to treat a covered illness if: (1) the drug has been approved by the FDA for at least one illness; or (2) if the drug is recognized for treatment of the covered illness in one of the standard reference compendia or in substantially accepted peer-reviewed medical literature.

Insurers are not required to cover any drugs that: (1) the FDA has not approved for any use; (2) a drug that the FDA has advised should not be used for the specific illness; (3) drugs used in research trials sponsored by their manufacturers or a government entity; or (4) drugs used in research trials, if the sponsor of the research trial furnishes the drugs or services without charge to any participant in the research trial.

This act is similar to SB 938 (1996).

CHERYL GRAZIER