Did not become law. It stopped in the House of Representatives's Public Health and Human Services Committee on February 3, 2026.
2026 Regular Session
House Bill 944
Advanced, metastatic cancer; extend and codify repealer on prohibition against health plans requiring step therapy before covering certain drugs to treat.
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 REENACTED SECTIONS 83-9-8.1 AND 83-9-36, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CODIFY AND EXTEND THE DATE OF THE REPEALER ON THOSE SECTIONS WHICH WAS ORIGINALLY ENACTED IN THE EFFECTIVE DATE SECTION OF THE ENABLING LEGISLATION; TO AMEND SECTION 3, CHAPTER 379, LAWS OF 2024, TO DELETE THE REPEALER ON SECTIONS 83-9-8.1 AND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, FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE SECTION OF THAT ACT; 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
Sponsor
Its course
January 16 to February 3, 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 action2 actions on 2 days
In the House of RepresentativesJan 16 to Feb 3 · stopped18 days
Public Health and Human ServicesJan 16 to Feb 3 · stopped18 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 3
- Jan 16Referred to the House committee on Public Health and Human Services
- Feb 3Died in committee in the House
All 2 actions, as published
- Jan 16Referred To Public Health and Human ServicesHouse of Representatives
- Feb 3Died In CommitteeHouse of Representatives