Ga. House Panel Backs Curbs On ‘Step Therapy’ Rules For Medications

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February 14th, 2019

“Step therapy’’ requires that a patient “try and fail” on one or more meds before insurers provide coverage for a drug that was originally prescribed. The Georgia House Insurance Committee on Wednesday passed legislation that would help patients obtain exceptions to these drug requirements.

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When Brannen Whirledge was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 4, he was put on medications that failed to help him. He suffered continual vomiting and severe stomach cramps.

Then they found a medication that worked. Brannen’s symptoms went away.

But after six months, says his mother, Melissa Whirledge, the family’s insurer told them that it would no longer cover the effective medication until “he failed on other drugs that he had already failed on.’’

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