Once again, the AANS and the CNS endorsed the Safe Step Act (S. 652/H.R. 2630). Health insurers often use step therapy — also called “fail first” — to control costs. Step therapy occurs when insurers require patients to fail the first step of treatment — typically a generic or low-cost drug — before moving on to the second step. This legislation — sponsored by Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) in the Senate and Reps. Brad Wenstrup, DPM, (R-Ohio) and Raul Ruiz, MD, (D-Calif) in the House — would require health plans to establish specific exceptions to medication step-therapy protocols.
Click here to read the House coalition letter, and here and here for letters to the Senate bill sponsors.
