clozapine; access; treatment protocols

SB 1720 requires health insurers in Arizona to cover enhanced care for patients prescribed clozapine, a medication for severe schizophrenia that requires careful blood monitoring. It mandates insurers to reimburse higher rates for psychiatric visits during the first year of treatment, cover mobile blood testing, provide less-invasive monitoring options like finger-stick devices, and include genetic testing to manage side effects. The bill also extends these requirements to inmates in county jails and state prisons, ensuring they receive clozapine access and related treatment protocols as specified in existing law. These changes directly affect patients on clozapine, health insurers, and correctional facilities.