(b) (1) Every contract issued by a corporation subject to the provisions of this article that provides coverage for prescription drugs shall include in the contract a process that allows an insured, the insured's designee, or the insured's prescribing health care provider to request a formulary exception. With respect to the process for such a formulary exception, a corporation shall follow the process and procedures specified in article forty-nine of this chapter and article forty-nine of the public health law, except as otherwise provided in paragraphs two, three, four and five of this subsection.

(2) (A) A corporation shall have a process for an insured, the insured's designee, or the insured's prescribing health care provider to request a standard review that is not based on exigent circumstances of a formulary exception for a prescription drug that is not covered by the contract.

(B) A corporation shall make a determination on a standard exception request that is not based on exigent circumstances and notify the insured or the insured's designee and the insured's prescribing health care provider by telephone of its coverage determination no later than seventy-two hours following receipt of the request.

(C) A corporation that grants a standard exception request that is not based on exigent circumstances shall provide coverage of the non-formulary prescription drug for the duration of the prescription, including refills.

(D) For the purpose of this subsection, "exigent circumstances" means when an insured is suffering from a health condition that may seriously jeopardize the insured's life, health, or ability to regain maximum function or when an insured is undergoing a current course of treatment using a non-formulary prescription drug.

(3) (A) A corporation shall have a process for an insured, the insured's designee, or the insured's prescribing health care provider to request an expedited review based on exigent circumstances of a formulary exception for a prescription drug is not covered by the contract.

(B) A corporation shall make a determination on an expedited review request based on exigent circumstances and notify the insured or the insured's designee and the insured's prescribing health care provider by telephone of its coverage determination no later than twenty-four hours following receipt of the request.

(C) A corporation that grants an exception based on exigent circumstances shall provide coverage of the non-formulary prescription drug for the duration of the exigent circumstances.

(4) A corporation that denies an exception request under paragraph two or three of this subsection shall provide written notice of its determination to the insured or the insured's designee and the insured's prescribing health care provider within three business days of receipt of the exception request. The written notice shall be considered a final adverse determination under section four thousand nine hundred four of this chapter or section four thousand nine hundred four of the public health law. Written notice shall also include the name or names of clinically appropriate prescription drugs covered by the corporation to treat the insured.

(5) (A) If a corporation denies a request for an exception under paragraph two or three of this subsection, the insured, the insured's designee, or the insured's prescribing health care provider shall have the right to request that such denial be reviewed by an external appeal agent certified by the superintendent pursuant to section four thousand nine hundred eleven of this chapter in accordance with article forty-nine of this chapter and article forty-nine of the public health law.

(B) An external appeal agent shall make a determination on the external appeal and notify the corporation, the insured or the insured's designee, and the insured's prescribing health care provider by telephone of its determination no later than seventy-two hours following the external appeal agent's receipt of the request, if the original request was a standard exception request under paragraph two of this subsection. The external appeal agent shall notify the corporation, the insured or the insured's designee and the insured's prescribing health care provider in writing of the external appeal determination within two business days of rendering such determination.

(C) An external appeal agent shall make a determination on the external appeal and notify the corporation, the insured or the insured's designee, and the insured's prescribing health care provider by telephone of its determination no later than twenty-four hours following the external appeal agent's receipt of the request, if the original request was an expedited exception request under paragraph three of this subsection and the insured's prescribing health care provider attests that exigent circumstances exist. The external appeal agent shall notify the corporation, the insured or the insured's designee and the insured's prescribing health care provider in writing of the external appeal determination within seventy-two hours of the external appeal agent's receipt of the external appeal.

(D) An external appeal agent shall make a determination in accordance with subparagraph (A) of paragraph four of subsection (b) of section four thousand nine hundred fourteen of this chapter and subparagraph (A) of paragraph (d) of subdivision two of section four thousand nine hundred fourteen of the public health law. When making a determination, the external appeal agent shall consider whether the formulary prescription drug covered by the corporation will be or has been ineffective, would not be as effective as the non-formulary prescription drug, or would have adverse effects.

(E) If an external appeal agent overturns the corporation's denial of a standard exception request under paragraph two of this subsection, then the corporation shall provide coverage of the non-formulary prescription drug for the duration of the prescription, including refills. If an external appeal agent overturns the corporation's denial of an expedited exception request under paragraph three of this subsection, then the corporation shall provide coverage of the non-formulary prescription drug for the duration of the exigent circumstances. * NB Effective January 1, 2020