New Yorkers now have protection against health risks caused by Step Therapy/Fall First Therapy after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed new legislation into law.
Step Therapy made insurance companies require cancer patients try less-expensive, less-effective drugs before being allowed to try the life-saving medicine their physicians recommended. Now, doctors have a way to appeal the health insurers’ decision not to fill the recommending prescription and insurance companies are required to address and respond to the appeal within three days.
“Prioritizing insurance company profits over patients’ health is wrong,” Julie Hart, the director of Government Relations for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, said. “We applaud Gov. Cuomo for taking another step to help cancer patients. By signing this bill to limit step therapy policies, the governor is helping patients get access to the lifesaving medicine they need.”
The non-profit, advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society's mission is to go to bat for cancer patients when it comes to dealing with government officials, policies and legislative red tape. Their goal is to make curing cancer a major health priority among government officials.
