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

HB 944 extends and codifies Mississippi's existing law prohibiting health insurance plans from requiring "step therapy" (forcing patients to try less effective drugs first) for advanced, metastatic cancer treatments. It directly affects patients with advanced cancer and their doctors, ensuring insurers must cover FDA-approved drugs for these conditions without prior failed treatments. The bill requires insurers to quickly approve treatment overrides when doctors provide clinical evidence showing step therapy would be ineffective or harmful. It extends the law's expiration date from 2024 to July 1, 2029, maintaining protections for cancer patients facing coverage delays.