03/01/2021

The NPF is the leading patient advocacy group for more than 8.3 million Americans and the more than 105,000 Oregon residents living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. I write to you today to express our support for HB 2517.

It is critical that patients can receive an exception to the required step therapy practice when the plan-directed medication is inappropriate. Delays in treatment can have devastating health implications that are avoidable when patients have access to a timely, clear, and accessible exception request process. A recent study shows that step therapy protocols are inconsistent across payers, creating additional confusion and frustration for patients and their providers acting on their behalf. HB 2517 would set a standard for the exception request process including timelines, clinical review criteria, and making the exception process transparent and straightforward.