Pharmaceutical Commerce: Fail-first policies are harming patients
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Step therapy, also known as “fail first,” is a tool used by health plans to control spending on patients’ medications. And while it can be an important tool to contain the costs of prescription drugs, in some circumstances, it has negative impacts on the patients themselves. This includes delayed access to the most effective treatment, severe side effects, and irreversible disease progression.
In this article for Pharmaceutical Commerce, PAN Foundation Chief Mission Officer Amy Niles, explains step therapy, discussing some of PAN’s recent polling on the topic, as well as the pending federal legislation that could address some of the issues
Patients should not have to wait to access the medication they need. The Safe Step Act could help.
“In my opinion, it is a common-sense, patient-centric legislation that will safeguard patients from potential adverse medication consequences and ensure access to the treatment that is best for them,” said Niles.