Alert: Step Therapy Relief / HR 5509
Your opportunity to help advance our advocacy priorities
The NC Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons joins the American Academy of Ophthalmology and other state and national partner organizations in actively supporting the Safe Step Act (HR 5509). This legislation would place limits on step therapy restrictions that health insurers subject you and your patients to. The goal is to improve access to treatments for patients and a more transparent system of care coverage.
HR 5509 has strong momentum, with more than 153 bipartisan cosponsors. If enacted, the Safe Step Act would require insurers to implement a clear and transparent process for a patient or physician to request an exception to a step therapy protocol. Upon such an exception request, insurers would be required to reply within 24 hours for emergency requests, or within 72 hours for non-emergency exception requests.
The legislation would also require group health plans to grant an exemption if an application clearly demonstrates any of the following circumstances:
- A patient previously tried and failed on the required drug
- Delayed treatment will cause irreversible consequences
- Required drug will harm the patient
- Required drug will prevent a patient from working or fulfilling activities of daily living
- Patient is stable on current medication
The NCSEPS is seeking the engagement of every ophthalmologist in North Carolina and is specifically asking for your outreach through the AAO’s online tool for connecting with members of Congress, especially the members of the US House of Representatives.
Your next steps:
- Connect with your member of the US House of Representatives to seek their support.
- When you receive a response to your message, share that response so we can monitor support or opposition and follow up.
- If a House member responds that they are a cosponsor of the bill, send a follow-up request asking that they work to advance the legislation.
Please take action TODAY. How can we help you in your advocacy efforts? Let us know.
Thank you for your advocacy engagement and support of the NCSEPS.
Very best regards,
Alan Skipper
Alan Skipper, CAE
Senior Advisor
NC Society of Eye Physicians & Surgeons
[email protected]