This bill, S.F. No. 2071, introduced in the Minnesota Senate, aims to prohibit the use of step therapy protocols for prescription insulin drugs in health insurance plans.

Key Points of the Bill:

• Definition Section: It defines diabetes (including type I, type II, and gestational), prescription insulin drugs, and step therapy protocol based on existing statutes.
  
• Prohibition on Step Therapy for Insulin: Health insurance plans that cover diabetes treatment cannot require patients to follow step therapy protocols for insulin prescriptions.
  
  • Step therapy is a cost-control process where patients must try and fail on lower-cost medications before insurers cover a more expensive prescribed drug.
    

Impact:

If enacted, this bill would ensure that Minnesota residents with diabetes can access physician-prescribed insulin without first trying alternative medications, preventing potential delays in necessary treatment.