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Safe Step Act

USA118th CongressS-652| Senate 
| Updated: 3/2/2023
Lisa Murkowski

Lisa Murkowski

Republican Senator

Alaska

Cosponsors (48)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Roger Marshall (Republican)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Dan Sullivan (Republican)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Jerry Moran (Republican)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)John W. Hickenlooper (Democratic)John Boozman (Republican)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Joe Manchin (Independent)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Jon Tester (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Deb Fischer (Republican)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)John Fetterman (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Raphael G. Warnock (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Mark Kelly (Democratic)Ted Budd (Republican)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

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-2546
Safe Step Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-464
Safe Step Act
Mar 2, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Mar 2, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Apr 13, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-2630
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-2546
    Safe Step Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-464
    Safe Step Act


  • March 2, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 2, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • April 13, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-2630
    Introduced in House

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 118-2630: Safe Step Act
  • S 118-1339: Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act
Drug therapyEmployee benefits and pensionsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessPrescription drugs

Safe Step Act

USA118th CongressS-652| Senate 
| Updated: 3/2/2023
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

Bill from Previous Congress

S 116-2546
Safe Step Act

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-464
Safe Step Act
Mar 2, 2023
Introduced in Senate
Mar 2, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
Apr 13, 2023

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-2630
Introduced in House
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 116-2546
    Safe Step Act


  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-464
    Safe Step Act


  • March 2, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 2, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.


  • April 13, 2023

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-2630
    Introduced in House
Lisa Murkowski

Lisa Murkowski

Republican Senator

Alaska

Cosponsors (48)
Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Roger Marshall (Republican)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Dan Sullivan (Republican)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Jerry Moran (Republican)Kirsten E. Gillibrand (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Alex Padilla (Democratic)Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)John W. Hickenlooper (Democratic)John Boozman (Republican)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Kyrsten Sinema (Independent)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Jacky Rosen (Democratic)Joe Manchin (Independent)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Kevin Cramer (Republican)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)Jon Tester (Democratic)Debbie Stabenow (Democratic)Deb Fischer (Republican)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)John Fetterman (Democratic)Tina Smith (Democratic)Cory A. Booker (Democratic)Peter Welch (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Raphael G. Warnock (Democratic)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Ron Wyden (Democratic)Richard Blumenthal (Democratic)Mark Kelly (Democratic)Ted Budd (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee

Health

Related Bills

  • HR 118-2630: Safe Step Act
  • S 118-1339: Pharmacy Benefit Manager Reform Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Drug therapyEmployee benefits and pensionsHealth care costs and insuranceHealth care coverage and accessPrescription drugs