This legislative proposal, titled the Prior Authorization Reform for Autoimmune and Blood Disorders Act, aims to significantly improve access to critical medications for individuals suffering from autoimmune diseases and certain blood disorders. It achieves this by amending the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 , the Public Health Service Act , and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 . The bill mandates that group health plans and health insurance issuers must provide coverage for any drug prescribed for the treatment of an autoimmune disease, hemophilia, or Von Willebrand disease. This coverage requirement applies regardless of whether the drug is dispensed by a pharmacy or furnished as part of another service. A key provision of this Act is the reform of prior authorization processes for these specific drugs. It stipulates that prior authorization may not be required more than once during any 12-month period for an enrolled individual. However, there are specific exceptions to this limitation, including drugs typically used for less than 12 months, certain controlled substances like opioids and benzodiazepines, and drugs requiring a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy under federal law. These changes are designed to reduce administrative burdens and ensure more consistent access to long-term treatments for patients with chronic conditions. The amendments made by this section are set to apply to plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2027.