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Bill > S652

US S652

US S652
Safe Step Act

summary

Introduced
03/02/2023
In Committee
03/02/2023
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
01/03/2025

Introduced Session

118th Congress

Bill Summary

A BILL To amend the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to require a group health plan or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such a plan to provide an exceptions process for any medication step therapy protocol, and for other purposes.

AI Summary

This bill, the Safe Step Act, amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to require group health plans or health insurance coverage offered in connection with such plans to provide an exceptions process for any medication step therapy protocol. A medication step therapy protocol is a drug therapy management program that requires a participant or beneficiary to try an alternative preferred, prescription drug before the plan approves coverage for the non-preferred drug therapy prescribed. The bill outlines specific circumstances under which an exception must be granted, such as when the required treatments have been ineffective or are expected to cause severe or irreversible consequences. The bill also sets forth requirements for the exceptions process, including timelines for plan responses and the availability of information about the process. The amendments made by this bill would apply to plan years beginning at least 6 months after the date of enactment.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services

Sponsors (49)

Lisa Murkowski (R)*,  Michael Bennet (D),  Richard Blumenthal (D),  Cory Booker (D),  John Boozman (R),  Ted Budd (R),  Shelley Moore Capito (R),  Bob Casey (D),  Susan Collins (R),  Chris Coons (D),  Catherine Cortez Masto (D),  Kevin Cramer (R),  Tammy Duckworth (D),  John Fetterman (D),  Deb Fischer (R),  Kirsten Gillibrand (D),  Maggie Hassan (D),  Martin Heinrich (D),  John Hickenlooper (D),  Mazie Hirono (D),  Cindy Hyde-Smith (R),  Tim Kaine (D),  Mark Kelly (D),  Angus King (I),  Cynthia Lummis (R),  Joe Manchin (I),  Roger Marshall (R),  Jeff Merkley (D),  Jerry Moran (R),  Chris Murphy (D),  Jon Ossoff (D),  Alex Padilla (D),  Gary Peters (D),  Jacky Rosen (D),  Jeanne Shaheen (D),  Kyrsten Sinema (I),  Tina Smith (D),  Debbie Stabenow (D),  Dan Sullivan (R),  Jon Tester (D),  Thom Tillis (R),  Chris Van Hollen (D),  Mark Warner (D),  Raphael Warnock (D),  Elizabeth Warren (D),  Peter Welch (D),  Sheldon Whitehouse (D),  Roger Wicker (R),  Ron Wyden (D), 

Last Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. (on 03/02/2023)

Bill Topics

Health
  • ‐ Health Insurance Reform
  • ‐ Regulation of Drug Industry and Pharmacies
Labor and Employment
  • ‐ Employee Benefits
(3 Companion Bills)

bill text

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Document Type Source Location Created
State Bill Page https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/652/all-info 03/03/2023
BillText https://www.congress.gov/118/bills/s652/BILLS-118s652is.pdf 03/18/2023
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