Posted: February 14, 2018
On Tuesday, February 13th, the New Mexico state legislature overwhelmingly approved SB 11, a bill that promises to reform the use of step-therapy protocols by insurers. Pending Governor Susana Martinez’s signature, New Mexico will become the first state in 2018 to enact reforms to the utilization management practices promulgated by insurers.
Step-therapy protocols, also known as “fail first,” require patients to try insurance companies preferred drugs before receiving the therapy recommended by their physician. The legislation protects patients in New Mexico from reckless application of this utilization management tool by creating access to a streamlined and transparent exception override process, which places care decisions back in the hands of physicians in consultation with their patients.
The CSRO applauds the efforts of Senators Elizabeth Stefanics and Gay G. Kernan, and Representatives Elizabeth Thomson and Monica Youngblood, whose strong leadership helped guide SB 11 through the New Mexico state legislature.
We urge Governor Susana Martinez to sign SB 11 in order to ensure continuity of care for patients New Mexico. Please join us in this effort by contacting the Governor’s office, and request that she sign SB 11 without delay.
