Step therapy bill intends to ‘put power back’ in patients’ and doctors’ hands

UPDATED -- Jan. 8, 2019 to correct prior error

Doctors and patients working to discover the best prescription to treat an illness would have greater leverage over selecting medication, under a bill passed 126-0 Monday by the House.

Pitched as a consumer-protection measure, HF3196, sponsored by Rep. Kelly Fenton (R-Woodbury), would require health plan companies to establish a step therapy protocol and provide enrollees with clinical review criteria. The bill would also allow doctors and patients in search of a different prescription to request overriding the protocol.

It now goes to the Senate, where Sen. Paul Utke (R-Park Rapids) is the sponsor.

Step therapy limits the way doctors can prescribe less-expensive medication before trying other options; Fenton called it a “tool that is used to control” ordering prescriptions.

“Physicians know the health of their patients best,” Fenton said.