Senate committee passes “step therapy” bill unanimously

The Missouri Senate Veterans’ Affairs and Health Committee has unanimously passed a bill that targets so-called “step therapy” practices by insurance companies.

The bill is sponsored by House Speaker Pro Tem Denny Hoskins from Warrensburg. It’s designed to ensure the medicine prescribed by a patient’s doctor is the medicine the patient is allowed to take.

Step therapy is a practice used by some health insurance companies to control costs. It requires patients to go through a series of steps – taking other medications and failing on them – before being allowed to get the medication originally prescribed by the patient’s doctor.

According to the website PrescriptionProcess.com, the steps are not based on a person’s medical situation, but on cost.

Hoskins’ bill passed in the Missouri House last week by a vote of 144-6. After passing in Thursday’s Senate hearing, it will now go to the full Senate for a vote.