Connecticut Senate Bill SB00007

Connecticut 2014 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/5/14
• Refer: 2/5/14

Caption

An Act Concerning The Use Of Step Therapy For And Off-label Prescribing Of Prescription Drugs.

Impact

If enacted, SB00007 would significantly alter the landscape of prescription drug coverage within state law by enhancing patient rights concerning their medication options. The bill supports the notion that treatments should be tailored to individual patient needs and that insurance policies should not impose barriers that could potentially compromise the effectiveness of care. This aligns with growing trends in healthcare emphasizing patient-centered approaches and the importance of personalized medicine.

Summary

SB00007 aims to regulate the practices surrounding step therapy and off-label prescribing of prescription drugs in the state. The key provisions of the bill prohibit health insurance policies from requiring patients to use certain drugs from mail order pharmacies as a condition to receive benefits. Additionally, it disallows insurers from requiring patients to try and fail a particular drug before being allowed to access an alternative, as long as the alternative has been previously proven ineffective for that patient. These measures are intended to protect patients from undue restrictions on their medical care and ensure they have greater access to appropriate treatments.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding the bill involve concerns from both healthcare providers and insurers. Some insurance executives argue that the bill may increase overall healthcare costs and undermine cost-control measures that have traditionally guided medication access. Conversely, advocates for patient rights, including healthcare professionals, fear that current practices of step therapy may lead to harmful delays in receiving necessary treatments for patients, thereby justifying the need for such legislative changes.