I write to request your support for the “Safe Step Act” (S. 652/H.R. 2630) to provide a clear and transparent process to seek exceptions and approvals for medications subject to step therapy review by health insurance plans. Step therapy is a practice health insurance plans use to manage the cost of medications. These insurance policies require the least expensive drug to be prescribed to a patient first, rather than the medicine originally prescribed by the doctor. This practice can result in serious negative consequences for consumers and the public health system. By limiting the medication options, both doctors and patients are forced to compromise their treatment decisions in a way that is dangerous, time consuming and more expensive in the long-term. Asthma medications are especially prone to step therapy because health plans frequently change the list of preferred medicines they will cover. Therapies prescribed by a healthcare provider are centered around patient care, and shared decision-making follows after the patient and provider establish a trusted relationship. When insurers interfere in this process any change in the course of treatment can jeopardize a patient’s well-being. Thank you for your consideration, and I hope this legislation becomes law to increase transparency in the step therapy process and ensure safe and effective therapies can be relied upon for patient health.

I write to request your support for the “Safe Step Act” (S. 652 /H.R. 2630) to provide a clear and transparent process to seek exceptions and approvals for medications subject to step therapy review by health insurance plans. Step therapy is a practice health insurance plans use to manage the cost of medications. These insurance policies require the least expensive drug to be prescribed to a patient first, rather than the medicine originally prescribed by the doctor. This practice can result in negative consequences for consumers and the public health system. By limiting the medication options, doctors and patients are forced to compromise their treatment decisions in a way that is dangerous, time consuming and more expensive in the long-term. Asthma medications are especially prone to step therapy because health plans frequently change the list of preferred medicines they will cover. Therapies prescribed by a healthcare provider are centered around patient care, and shared decision-making follows after the patient and provider establish a trusted relationship. When insurers interfere in this process any change in the course of treatment can jeopardize a patient’s well-being. Thank you for your consideration, and I hope this legislation becomes law to increase transparency in the step therapy process and ensure safe and effective therapies can be relied upon for patient health.

I write to request your support for the “Safe Step Act” (S. 652 /H.R. 2630) to provide a clear and transparent process to seek exceptions and approvals for medications subject to step therapy review by health insurance plans. Step therapy is a practice health insurance plans use to manage medication cost. These insurance policies require the least expensive drug to be prescribed to a patient first, rather than the medicine originally prescribed by the doctor. This practice can result in serious negative consequences for consumers and the public health system. By limiting the medication options, doctors and patients are forced to compromise their treatment decisions in a way that is dangerous, time consuming and more expensive in the long-term. Medications for asthma are especially prone to step therapy because health plans frequently change the list of preferred medicines they will cover. Therapies prescribed by a healthcare provider are centered around patient care, and shared decision-making follows after the patient and provider establish a trusted relationship. When insurers interfere in this process any change in the course of treatment can jeopardize a patient’s well-being. Thank you for your consideration, and I hope this legislation becomes law to increase transparency in the step therapy process and ensure safe and effective therapies can be relied upon for patient health.