The State Access to Innovative Medicines (SAIM) Coalition recently submitted a formal letter of support to the Virginia Senate Commerce and Labor Committee in favor of Senate Bill 161, sponsored by Sen. Russet Perry. The legislation aims to improve prescription drug affordability and predictability for patients in the individual and small group health insurance markets.…
South Carolina State Senator Michael Johnson of District 16 participated in the latest monthly coalition call hosted by the State Access to Innovative Medicine (SAIM), providing an update on his legislative efforts to address issues related to prior authorization and step therapy. The legislation, Senate Bill 531, has a House companion bill, HB 4562, sponsored…
SAIM is pleased to share the December 2025 edition of its newsletter, highlighting a year of meaningful progress and setting the stage for an active 2026. This issue recaps key 2025 legislative wins on step therapy, outlines new resources and tools for members, and previews SAIM’s strategic priorities for the upcoming state legislative sessions. Readers…
SAIM Coalition Honors State Lawmakers for Work to Improve Patient Access to Medication Honorees championed legislation to curb high out-of-pocket costs, step therapy Members of the State Access to Innovative Medicines (SAIM) Coalition today recognized four state lawmakers for their work to pass legislation aimed at improving patient access to prescription medications. Assemblyman Daniel…
New Videos Show How “Fail First” Policies Can Fail Patients By Ben Chandhok Continued access to a stable treatment can make all the difference for patients with chronic illnesses like arthritis, cancer, diabetes, hepatitis C, HIV/AIDs and more. Interruptions in treatment can lead to disease progression and unnecessary medical expenses like hospitalization or surgery. In…
Wisconsin Passes Step Therapy Reform On July 9, 2019, Governor Tony Evers signed legislation that will put common sense patient protections in place for the practice of step therapy. The legislation becomes effective January 1, 2020 and will protect Wisconsonites insured through state regulated, individual market plans. Health care providers will have access to a…
Step Therapy Reform Prevails in Maine The SAIM Coalition supports Governor Janet Mills and Maine lawmakers in the passage of L.D. 1009 – An Act To Provide Protections for Maine Patients Facing Step Therapy. This new law will help Maine patients receive the medications that their health care providers prescribe in an expeditious manner.…
Step Therapy Reform Signed into Law in Delaware Advocates and SAIM Coalition members joined forces in Delaware to pass step therapy reform. With unanimous committee and floor votes, HB 105 had overwhelming support from the legislature. The bill was championed by Melissa Minor-Brown in the House as well as Senator David McBride and Senator Nicole…
Provider Interview: Challenges of Step Therapy Rheumatologist Angus Worthing speaks about the challenges that step therapy presents to providers and patients as they work together to develop appropriate treatment plans.
Patient Interview: Psoriatic Arthritis and Step Therapy Katie Roberts speaks about her experiences living with psoriatic arthritis and the challenges of finding a treatment that works for her.
Patient Interview: Sarcoidosis and Step Therapy Sandra Cobb speaks about her experience being diagnosed and living with sarcoidosis, including the barriers that she faced in seeking treatment.
Patient Interview: Rheumatoid Arthritis and Step Therapy Jen Melanson speaks about her experiences living with rheumatoid arthritis and navigating step therapy protocols to get the treatment she needs.
Washington Passes Step Therapy Reform! Governor Inslee signed HB 1879 into law yesterday, expanding patient protections in Washington State. This new law places guardrails in prescription drug utilization management (UM) protocols and requires a health plan to clearly post the process and criteria for prescription drugs that require a UM protocol, including prior authorization and…
Georgia Joins Ranks of States Passing Step Therapy Reform Thanks in part to combined efforts of SAIM Coalition members, their respective patient and provider volunteers, and the local Rx in Reach coalition, Georgia House Bill 63 was signed into law by Governor Brian Kemp on April 25, granting necessary patient protections for those with…
Virginia Becomes 21st State to Pass Step Therapy Reform The SAIM Coalition applauds Virginia lawmakers for passing H.B. 2126 into law. Signed by Governor Northam on March 12, the law requires health insurers to establish a process for step therapy override exception guidelines. Led by Delegate Glenn R. Davis Jr. (R) from District 84…
Ohio Passes Step Therapy Reform! Yesterday, Governor John Kasich signed SB 265 into law, making Ohio the twentieth state to pass step therapy reform. Effective January 1, 2020, the bill includes language which will reform how health plans apply step therapy requirements to patients needing certain medications. Ohioans for Step Therapy Reform, led by the…
Martinez signs bill to curb ‘step therapy,’ vetoes raises for elected offices A bill designed to rein in “step therapy,” the insurance company practice of requiring patients to try a less expensive medication before using a costlier option, will become law in New Mexico. Gov. Susana Martinez on Wednesday signed Senate Bill 11, sponsored by…
New Jersey May Become Latest State to Cap Out-of-Pocket Cost of Medications There’s a bipartisan push to cap what patients pay for drugs. It could cut their bills in half, but not everyone’s on board New Jersey officials hope the Garden State will join a growing number of states that have capped out-of-pocket patient costs…