l9n/ Mississippi

2026 Regular Session

House Bill 856

Advanced, metastatic cancer; delete repealer on prohibition against health plans requiring step therapy before covering certain drugs to treat.

Became law as Chapter 359, Laws of 2026, signed March 16, 2026, 59 days after it was filed.

What it does

The synopsis the Legislature published with the bill.

AN ACT TO REENACT SECTION 83-9-8.1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PROHIBITS A HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN FROM REQUIRING STEP THERAPY OR FAIL-FIRST PROTOCOLS BEFORE THE PLAN PROVIDES COVERAGE OF CERTAIN PRESCRIPTION DRUGS TO TREAT ADVANCED, METASTATIC CANCER AND ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS; TO REENACT SECTION 83-9-36, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PRESCRIBES THE PROCESS BY WHICH A PRESCRIBING PRACTITIONER MAY REQUEST AN OVERRIDE OF AN INSURER'S RESTRICTION ON MEDICATION FOR USE BY A STEP THERAPY OR FAIL-FIRST PROTOCOL; TO AMEND SECTION 3, CHAPTER 379, LAWS OF 2024, TO DELETE THE REPEALER ON SECTIONS 83-9-8.1 AND 83-9-36, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

Sponsors

Who carried the bill in each chamber, and who signed on. Each name leads to the member's page.

In the House of Representatives

1 co-sponsor

Omeria Scott

Its course

January 16 to March 16, 2026, on one scale. In the top row each mark is a day something happened; taller marks are busier days.

Each committee stop sits inside its chamber.

Every action11 actions on 11 days

In the House of RepresentativesJan 16 to Feb 419 days

Public Health and Human ServicesJan 16 to Jan 2812 days

In the SenateFeb 4 to Mar 428 days

InsuranceFeb 13 to Feb 2613 days

With the GovernorMar 4 to Mar 1612 days

Text

Each version as the Legislature printed it.

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

What happened

In l9n's words, one line for each step. Every action as the Legislature published it is below.

In the House of Representatives Jan 16 – Feb 4

  1. Jan 16Referred to the House committee on Public Health and Human Services
  2. Jan 28Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass
  3. Feb 4Passed the House

In the Senate Feb 5 – Mar 4

  1. Feb 5Sent to the Senate
  2. Feb 13Referred to the Senate committee on Insurance
  3. Feb 26Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass
  4. Mar 4Passed the Senate

To the Governor Mar 5 – Mar 16

  1. Mar 5Returned to the House for enrolling
  2. Mar 6Enrolled bill signed in the House
  3. Mar 9Enrolled bill signed in the Senate
  4. Mar 16Approved by the Governor
All 11 actions, as published
  1. Jan 16Referred To Public Health and Human ServicesHouse of Representatives
  2. Jan 28Title Suff Do PassHouse of Representatives
  3. Feb 4PassedHouse of Representatives
  4. Feb 5Transmitted To SenateHouse of Representatives
  5. Feb 13Referred To InsuranceSenate
  6. Feb 26Title Suff Do PassSenate
  7. Mar 4PassedSenate
  8. Mar 5Returned For EnrollingSenate
  9. Mar 6Enrolled Bill SignedHouse of Representatives
  10. Mar 9Enrolled Bill SignedSenate
  11. Mar 16Approved by GovernorGovernor