Delaware Governor Signs Step Therapy Bill Into Law
It was a historic day for Delaware residents as Gov. John Carney signed the state’s step therapy legislation into law.
Sometimes referred to as “fail first,” step therapy is a process insurance companies use to require patients to try and fail on their preferred drugs before getting the medication originally prescribed by their doctor. This can happen in the middle of a plan year, even if a patient is currently stable on the medication.
Arthritis Foundation Advocates came to the Statehouse to help pass this legislation. Carol Reilly, chair of the Foundation’s state advocacy committee, testified at both the House and Senate hearings. “Step therapy is an important issue for me and for the people of Delaware,” she said. “Too many patients are required to fail on a drug before they get the medication their prescriber thinks is best for them. This new law will help put care back into the hands of the doctors.”
Advocate Kirsti Bonaquisti personally met with over 10 legislators to share her arthritis story. She helped convince legislators to vote in favor of the bill. Her personal experience with step therapy made her want to speak out so that no other patient would go through what she went through.
Championed by Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, Senate President Pro Tempore David McBride and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Poore, this legislation passed unanimously in both chambers. As a nurse, Rep. Minor-Brown had the personal experience of seeing patients go through step therapy. That experience made this bill more than just another piece of legislation.
We’re grateful to these Advocates and so many others who helped make this legislation a reality. You can take action, just like Carol and Kirsti did, to help us with our federal step therapy legislation. Send a message to your legislator today through our Action Center. You can modify your message and add in your personal experience or send the message we’ve written for you. It’s just that simple! Click here for more information!
Sometimes referred to as “fail first,” step therapy is a process insurance companies use to require patients to try and fail on their preferred drugs before getting the medication originally prescribed by their doctor. This can happen in the middle of a plan year, even if a patient is currently stable on the medication.
Arthritis Foundation Advocates came to the Statehouse to help pass this legislation. Carol Reilly, chair of the Foundation’s state advocacy committee, testified at both the House and Senate hearings. “Step therapy is an important issue for me and for the people of Delaware,” she said. “Too many patients are required to fail on a drug before they get the medication their prescriber thinks is best for them. This new law will help put care back into the hands of the doctors.”
Advocate Kirsti Bonaquisti personally met with over 10 legislators to share her arthritis story. She helped convince legislators to vote in favor of the bill. Her personal experience with step therapy made her want to speak out so that no other patient would go through what she went through.Championed by Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, Senate President Pro Tempore David McBride and Senate Majority Leader Nicole Poore, this legislation passed unanimously in both chambers. As a nurse, Rep. Minor-Brown had the personal experience of seeing patients go through step therapy. That experience made this bill more than just another piece of legislation.
We’re grateful to these Advocates and so many others who helped make this legislation a reality. You can take action, just like Carol and Kirsti did, to help us with our federal step therapy legislation. Send a message to your legislator today through our Action Center. You can modify your message and add in your personal experience or send the message we’ve written for you. It’s just that simple! Click here for more information!