Relates to step therapy protocol

This bill (S 2676) sets new rules for health insurance step therapy protocols, which require patients to try lower-cost medications first before covering more expensive options. It directly affects health insurance plans and patients needing specialty medications by limiting step therapy to no more than two drugs in the same category, capping the required trial period at 30 days (or evidence-based guidelines), and requiring insurers to accept doctors' written documentation of treatment failure as proof. The bill also prevents insurers from reapplying step therapy for patients who completed it under prior coverage or for drugs previously approved by the plan. These changes take effect January 1, 2026.