Failing Up

Issue #6 of “What’s Her Problem?”: Step therapy purports to save patients and insurers money, but it frequently puts patients at risk.

Each issue of "What's Her Problem?" includes questions for further discussion. You can Leave a Comment publicly below, or become a Paid Subscriber on Substack to join the conversation in the private community Chat.

This week’s question:

Have you participated in a step therapy program (knowingly or unknowingly)? Were there any adverse effects to your health as a result?

Links and References:

https://steptherapy.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Flyer-Safe-Step-Act.pdf

https://steptherapy.com/step-therapy-legislation-by-state/

https://dawnlevitt.substack.com/p/pill-rhymes-with-kill-for-a-reason?r=heamx&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

https://www.healthinsurance.org/glossary/step-therapy/

Shan DM, Greenzaid JD, Greene E, Feldman SR. Analyzing the Benefits and Costs of the Safe Step Act on Patients, Physicians, and Insurers. J Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis. 2024 Jul;9(3):115-120. doi: 10.1177/24755303241253203. Epub 2024 May 7. PMID: 39301213; PMCID: PMC11361492.

https://www.neurology.org/doi/pdfdirect/10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000208 /https://doi.org/10.1212/CPJ.0000000000000208 

Bourdette, D. N., Hartung, D. M., & Whitham, R. H. (2016). Practices of US health insurance companies concerning MS therapies interfere with shared decision-making and harm patients. Neurology. Clinical Practice, 6(2), 177–182.

https://www.aan.com/siteassets/home-page/conferences-and-community/regional-conferences/neurology-on-the-hill/participant-page/24-step-therapy-talking-points-premium-data.pdf

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