a determination of exception eligibility without additional information, such determination shall be made on an expedited basis, and no later than 24 hours after receipt of such request. (B) If the plan or issuer requires additional information before making a determination of exception eligibility, the plan or issuer shall respond to the participant or beneficiary and, if applicable, the requesting prescriber, with a request for such information within 24 hours of the request for a determination, and shall respond with a determination of exception eligibility as quickly as the condition or disease requires, and no later than 24 hours after receipt of the additional required information. (e) Duration of a grant If an exception to a medication step therapy protocol is granted under this section to a participant or beneficiary, coverage for the requested drug shall remain in effect with respect to such participant or beneficiary for not less than one year. (f) Medication step therapy protocol In this section, the term medication step therapy protocol means a drug therapy utilization management protocol or program under which a group health plan or health insurance issuer offering group health insurance coverage of prescription drugs requires a participant or beneficiary to try an alternative preferred prescription drug or drugs before the plan or health insurance issuer approves coverage for the non-preferred drug therapy prescribed. (g) Clarification This section shall apply with respect to any group health plan or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan that provides coverage of a prescription drug pursuant to a policy that meets the definition of the term medication step therapy protocol in subsection (f), regardless of whether such policy is described by such group health plan or health insurance coverage as a step therapy protocol. (h) Reporting (1) Reporting to the Secretary Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the Safe Step Act and not later than October 1 of each