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Safe Step Act

USA116th CongressS-2546| Senate 
| Updated: 9/25/2019
Lisa Murkowski

Lisa Murkowski

Republican Senator

Alaska

Cosponsors (18)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Bill Cassidy (Republican)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Jerry Moran (Republican)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Doug Jones (Democratic)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Kevin Cramer (Republican)John Kennedy (Republican)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Safe Step Act This bill requires a group health plan to establish an exception to medication step-therapy protocol in specified cases. A medication step-therapy protocol establishes a specific sequence in which prescription drugs are covered by a group health plan or a health insurance issuer. A request for such an exception to the protocol must be granted if (1) an otherwise required treatment has been ineffective, (2) such treatment is expected to be ineffective and delaying effective treatment would lead to irreversible consequences, (3) such treatment will cause or is likely to cause an adverse reaction to the individual, (4) such treatment is expected to prevent the individual from performing daily activities or occupational responsibilities, (5) the individual is stable based on the prescription drugs already selected, or (6) there are other circumstances as determined by the Employee Benefits Security Administration. The bill requires a group health plan to implement and make readily available a clear process for an individual to request an exception to the protocol, including required information and criteria for granting an exception. The bill further specifies timelines under which plans must respond to such requests.
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Timeline
Apr 10, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-2279
Introduced in House
Sep 25, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Sep 25, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • April 10, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-2279
    Introduced in House


  • September 25, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 25, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 116-2279: Safe Step Act
Drug therapyEmployee benefits and pensionsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessPrescription drugs

Safe Step Act

USA116th CongressS-2546| Senate 
| Updated: 9/25/2019
Safe Step Act This bill requires a group health plan to establish an exception to medication step-therapy protocol in specified cases. A medication step-therapy protocol establishes a specific sequence in which prescription drugs are covered by a group health plan or a health insurance issuer. A request for such an exception to the protocol must be granted if (1) an otherwise required treatment has been ineffective, (2) such treatment is expected to be ineffective and delaying effective treatment would lead to irreversible consequences, (3) such treatment will cause or is likely to cause an adverse reaction to the individual, (4) such treatment is expected to prevent the individual from performing daily activities or occupational responsibilities, (5) the individual is stable based on the prescription drugs already selected, or (6) there are other circumstances as determined by the Employee Benefits Security Administration. The bill requires a group health plan to implement and make readily available a clear process for an individual to request an exception to the protocol, including required information and criteria for granting an exception. The bill further specifies timelines under which plans must respond to such requests.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Apr 10, 2019

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 116-2279
Introduced in House
Sep 25, 2019
Introduced in Senate
Sep 25, 2019
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  • April 10, 2019

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 116-2279
    Introduced in House


  • September 25, 2019
    Introduced in Senate


  • September 25, 2019
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Lisa Murkowski

Lisa Murkowski

Republican Senator

Alaska

Cosponsors (18)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Bill Cassidy (Republican)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Jerry Moran (Republican)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Doug Jones (Democratic)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Kevin Cramer (Republican)John Kennedy (Republican)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 116-2279: Safe Step Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Drug therapyEmployee benefits and pensionsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessPrescription drugs