Establishes certain guidelines for SHBP, SEHBP and Medicaid concerning step therapy protocols.*

This bill requires New Jersey health insurance carriers (including Medicaid and state health benefit plans) to base step therapy protocols - where patients must try lower-cost drugs first - on independent, evidence-based clinical guidelines developed by expert panels with conflict-of-interest safeguards. It mandates clear processes for patients to request exceptions when protocols risk harm or ineffectiveness (e.g., if a drug causes adverse reactions or previous treatments failed), with insurers required to approve or deny requests within 72 hours (24 hours in emergencies). Insurers must also report exception data to the state, including denial reasons and medical conditions involved. The law aims to balance cost management with patient safety by prioritizing clinical evidence and physician discretion.