Limiting Step Therapy on Mental Health Medications: Why a More Expansive Approach Is Needed

ideation, 28 reduced medication adherence, 29 and increased spending on outpatient, inpatient, and emergency care. 30 Dafna's story illustrates this well: although her health insurer's step therapy protocol might have reduced how much her insurer spent on prescription drugs, the step therapy drugs made Dafna suicidal and forced her to seek more intensive and expensive outpatient care. 31 Unlike most patients, though, Dafna was a state lawmaker in Colorado. 32 Inspired by her ordeal, she introduced legislation to restrict step therapy on drugs that treat specific mental illnesses. 33 Her legislation became law on June 6, 2023. 34 Because of Dafna's efforts, Colorado is one of four states that specifically restricts step therapy on drugs that treat SMI. 35 Heeding the calls for step therapy reform, 36 several other states have proposed similar laws. 37Policymakers hope this legislation will expand access to 28 Rachel Zimmerman, Need a New Drug?You May Be Asked to 'Fail' an Old Drug First, WASH.