ABOUT THE BILL

The Safe Step Act addresses the practice of step therapy which mandates that patients try and fail on less expensive medications before they can access treatments prescribed by their healthcare providers. This process, also referred to as “fail first,” can delay patients’ access to necessary medications, potentially compromising their health outcomes.

This proposed legislation aims to establish clear and fair guidelines for step therapy protocols, ensuring that patients have timely access to the most appropriate treatments for their conditions. It seeks to safeguard patient safety by allowing healthcare providers to override step therapy requirements based on their clinical judgment and the individual needs of their patients.

The Safe Step Act also aims to streamline the appeals process for patients who encounter challenges due to step therapy protocols imposed by their insurance plans. By enhancing transparency and accountability within the healthcare system, this legislation strives to prioritize patient well-being and ensure that individuals receive the care they need without undue delays or obstacles.

Overall, the Safe Step Act represents a significant step towards reforming medication access practices, promoting patient-centered care, and ensuring that healthcare decisions are made based on the best interests of patients’ health.

CURRENT SITUATION & ISSUE

Step therapy, or “fail first” protocols, require patients to try and fail on lower-cost medications before insurers approve more expensive, potentially more effective treatments. While this approach aims to control costs, it can lead to significant delays in patients receiving the most effective care, exacerbating health conditions and causing undue stress.

HOW THE BILL FIXES IT

The bill mandates that group health plans implement a clear process for requesting exceptions, including the necessary information and criteria for granting these exceptions. It also specifies timelines within which plans must respond to requests, ensuring timely access to appropriate treatments.

WHAT IT SEEKS TO DO

The Safe Step Act seeks to establish a clear process for patients and healthcare providers to request exceptions to step-therapy protocols. Exceptions must be granted in cases where:

• The required treatment has been ineffective.

• The required treatment is expected to be ineffective, and delaying effective treatment would lead to irreversible consequences.

• The required treatment will cause or is likely to cause an adverse reaction.

• The required treatment is expected to prevent the individual from performing daily activities or occupational responsibilities.

• The individual is stable based on the current prescription drugs.

• Other circumstances as determined by the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

HOW THIS LEGISLATION BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITIES

CHRONIC, COMPLEX & RARE PATIENTS

CAREGIVERS

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

RESEARCHERS

MEDICAL EDUCATORS & STUDENTS

CHRONIC, COMPLEX & RARE PATIENTS

CAREGIVERS

HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS

RESEARCHERS

MEDICAL EDUCATORS & STUDENTS

NEXT STEPS TO ADVOCATE FOR IT

1.

Find the Legislation and Check the Status

To begin your advocacy efforts, it’s essential to know the current status of the Safe Step Act. This involves identifying the bill numbers (H.R.2630 in the House and S.652 in the Senate) and checking their progress by clicking on the button below which will take you to our “Search & Track Legislation” page. Understanding where the bill stands—whether it has been introduced, is in committee, or is up for a vote—will help you tailor your advocacy efforts accordingly. Okay now don’t close the tab with this open, you will need it for step 3.

2.

Find & Get Contact Info For Your Representatives

Identifying your federal and state representatives is crucial for targeted advocacy. You can use our “Find Your Representatives” page by clicking the button below to find your representatives’ contact information, including their phone numbers, email addresses, and office locations.

3.

Check If Your Representatives Are Cosponsoring the Bill

Cosponsoring means that a representative or senator has added their name in support of the bill, indicating their endorsement and helping to build momentum for its passage. Remember that page from step 1 that you pulled up with the information about the bill? That is where you can also look up your representatives on the bill’s page to see if they are listed as cosponsors. If they are already cosponsors, then you don’t need to do anything since they already support it, (if you want to though you thank them for their support). If they are not co-sponsors, then continue on through the steps which will help guide you to encouraging them to become cosponsors.

4.

Create A One-Pager

Now that you know that your representative is not already supporting this bill, you can create a one-pager prior to contacting them so that you have it ready to go should you need it quickly. If you have not heard of a one-pager before, a one-pager is a concise document summarizing the key aspects of the bill. This should include a brief summary of the bill, its benefits, relevant statistics, and a personal story to humanize the issue. The one-pager should also contain a clear call to action, specifying what you want the reader to do. It might seem intimidating, but don’t worry we created a template and guide over on our one-pager page which you can access by clicking the button below.

5.

Contact Your Representatives

Now that you have all the info and one-pager, it is time to contact your representatives! You can learn all about this process and access resources and guides as to what to do on our, “Contact Your Rrepresentatives” page by clicking the button below. You can prepare your talking points using your one-pager, then reach out to your representatives via email, phone calls, or by scheduling a meeting. You can then explain why this bill is important to you, how it impacts you or those you care about, and request their support. You can then provide them with your one-pager for them to have and reference after.

6.

Share About The Bill On Social & Mainstream Media

Personal stories can be powerful advocacy tools. You can use our social and mainstream media toolkits to help you share about the bill, about your own experiences with the issue and how the passage of the bill would improve your healthcare. You can then go on to highlight the broader impact on patients with chronic, complex, and rare diseases. You can do this on social media as well as mainstream media to help make others aware of the legislation. While sharing about it, you can also provide resources, like this page, to help them each take action with their own representatives. This can help to get more representatives involved and move the process of the bill getting passed forward.

The Safe Step Act

ABOUT THE BILL

Overall, the Safe Step Act represents a significant step towards reforming medication access practices, promoting patient-centered care, and ensuring that healthcare decisions are made based on the best interests of patients’ health.

CURRENT SITUATION & ISSUE

HOW THE BILL FIXES IT

The bill mandates that group health plans implement a clear process for requesting exceptions, including the necessary information and criteria for granting these exceptions. It also specifies timelines within which plans must respond to requests, ensuring timely access to appropriate treatments.

WHAT IT SEEKS TO DO

The Safe Step Act seeks to establish a clear process for patients and healthcare providers to request exceptions to step-therapy protocols. Exceptions must be granted in cases where:

• The required treatment has been ineffective.

• The required treatment is expected to be ineffective, and delaying effective treatment would lead to irreversible consequences.

• The required treatment will cause or is likely to cause an adverse reaction.

• The required treatment is expected to prevent the individual from performing daily activities or occupational responsibilities.

• The individual is stable based on the current prescription drugs.

• Other circumstances as determined by the Employee Benefits Security Administration.

HOW THIS LEGISLATION BENEFITS OUR COMMUNITIES

Timely Access to Treatments: Patients often require specific, advanced treatments. The Safe Step Act ensures they receive the most appropriate care without unnecessary delays.

Improved Health Outcomes: By bypassing ineffective or potentially harmful treatments, patients can achieve better health outcomes more quickly.

Reduced Burden on Patients and Providers: Simplifying the process for obtaining necessary medications reduces administrative burdens and stress for both patients and healthcare providers.

Better Disease Management: Quicker access to the right treatments helps in managing conditions more effectively, preventing disease progression and complications.

Decreased Healthcare Costs: By providing timely and effective treatments, the overall healthcare costs associated with managing these diseases can be reduced.

Reduced Stress: Caregivers will face fewer challenges in advocating for the necessary treatments for their loved ones, leading to less stress and better support.

Improved Quality of Life: With patients receiving appropriate treatments more quickly, caregivers can better manage their caregiving responsibilities and improve their own quality of life.

Streamlined Processes: Healthcare professionals will benefit from a more straightforward process to obtain necessary treatments for their patients, reducing administrative burdens.

Improved Patient Care: With the ability to bypass ineffective treatments, healthcare providers can offer better and more personalized care to their patients.

Greater Professional Satisfaction: The ability to provide timely and appropriate care enhances job satisfaction for healthcare professionals.

Researchers: Enhanced access to treatments allows researchers to better study the effectiveness of therapies, leading to more robust clinical data and potential new insights into disease management.

Medical Educators: Educators can teach medical students about the importance of patient-centered care and the complexities of treatment protocols, using real-world examples influenced by the Safe Step Act.

Medical Students: Exposure to improved step therapy protocols will prepare students to advocate for their future patients’ needs and navigate the complexities of insurance and treatment approvals effectively.