Provided by RisaRae from our Lupus Community:
Have you guys heard of step therapy first fail? Well to make a long story short, it's basically a rule that insurance companies practice when it comes to paying claims for treatment of patients with chronic illnesses. It basically requires a doctor to take the cheapest route when it comes to therapies for treating patients, and only upon the failure of that method can that patient be put on more expensive therapies. It is the reason why many of us are not getting the treatment that we deserve. I think this is outrageous! However, I do respect the rules of this site, and it was asked that we save our political views for the proper channels. But I'm not really taking a political stance, I just think its ridiculous. It's not fair that the insurance companies are playing Russian Roulette with the chronically ill such as ourselves. I decided to sign the petition for my state for this legislature to be changed. Everyone should have a right to the care they need, no matter the cost. I've included some info if you live in NY and you'd like to sign the petition, or if you want to learn more about it. I hope I don't ruffle any feathers, but I thought this was important info to share:
Scroll down the list to see what is happening in your state:
http://failfirsthurts.org/fail-first-updates/
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New York Residents:
Take a New York minute and make your NY voices heard on an important health care issue that impacts our ability to receive the most suitable treatments. Let your NYS Legislators know that Step Therapy/First Fail protocol delays patient access to medications, creates more obstacles for patients and physicians to overcome, denies continuity of care, and FAILS all of us.
That's why I signed a petition to The New York State House and The New York State Senate.
Will you sign this petition? Click here:
http://signon.org/sign/step-therapy-fails-us?source=s.em.mt&r_b...