Safe Step Act
Key claim: The Safe Step Act (S2903, 119th Congress) would require group health plans to provide a clear, timely exceptions process to step-therapy (fail-first) protocols for prescription drugs.
Abstract
(S2903 · 119th Congress) Latest action (2026-03-19): Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. Hearings held.
Why this matters
Step-therapy (fail-first) protocols require patients to try insurer-preferred drugs before covering the treatment their clinician prescribed, which can delay care for chronic and complex conditions. The Safe Step Act would set federal minimum standards for exception requests under ERISA-governed group health plans, giving patients and providers a defined pathway and timeline to bypass step-therapy when clinically warranted. As introduced legislation without enacted changes, it does not currently alter coverage or cost-sharing.