--- title: Safe Step Act Reaches 218 Cosponsors in the House of Representatives description: This week, the Safe Step Act reached a huge milestone as it gained 218 cosponsors in the House of Representatives. This milestone is significant … image: https://autoimmune.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/placeholder.jpg --- [Skip to content](#content) [Donate](https://autoimmune.org/blog/safe-step-act-reaches-218-cosponsors-in-the-house-of-representatives/?campaign=697841) July 23, 2024 0 Share this article FacebookXLinkedIn # Safe Step Act Reaches 218 Cosponsors in the House of Representatives - [Advocacy](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/advocacy/) - [Autoimmune Association News](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/aarda-news/) - [Featured Posts](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/featured-posts/) - [General Autoimmune](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/general-autoimmune/) This week, the [Safe Step Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/2630) reached a huge milestone as it gained 218 cosponsors in the House of Representatives. This milestone is significant because it shows that a majority of Members in the House support the issue and a bill with 218 co-sponsors is 6.5 times more likely to be enacted. The Safe Step Act (S. 652/H.R. 2630) requires group health plan to provide an exception process for any medication step therapy protocol and respond to exemption requests within 72 hours, or 24 hours if a patient’s life is at risk. The Autoimmune Association supports this bill because it implements a clear and transparent process for a patient or physician to request an exception to a step therapy protocol and outlines five exceptions to fail first protocols. Step therapy protocols ignore a patient’s unique circumstances and medical history. Requiring a patient to go through step therapy can result in delayed access to the most effective treatment, severe side effects, and irreversible disease progression. **What’s Next?** That Autoimmune Association, in partnership with the Safe Step Act Ad Hoc Coalition, are actively meeting with additional Members of Congress to garner additional support for the bill. We are also advocating for the inclusion of the Safe Step Act in the anticipated PBM Reform package, which will likely increase transparency in PBM pricing practices as well as put in protections for patients. If the bill can reach 290 cosponsors, it will be eligible for placement on the Consensus Calendar and to potentially be passed in an expediated process. **Additional Resources** For additional resources to understand how a bill becomes a law, please reference: - [Autoimmune Association — Advocacy 101](https://autoimmune.org/advocacy/advocacy-101/) - [Congress.gov – How Our Laws Are Made](https://www.congress.gov/help/learn-about-the-legislative-process/how-our-laws-are-made) **Key Terms** - Step Therapy — Insurance company tactic that often requires patients to “fail first” on one or more drugs before getting the medicine that doctors originally prescribed. - Pharmacy Benefit Managers — Corporations that administer drug prescription plans for insurance companies; they manage high-cost specialty medication. They help to control what medications are available, which can potentially restrict access for patients. Share this article FacebookXLinkedIn ## Join our email list Receive the latest blog articles, news, and more right to your inbox! [Sign Up](https://go.pardot.com/l/864732/2021-01-25/mnz6b3) - ### Categories - [Advocacy](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/advocacy/) - [Autoimmune Association News](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/aarda-news/) - [Autoimmune Community Summit](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/autoimmune-community-summit/) - [Autoimmune Heroes](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/autoimmune-heroes/) - [COVID-19](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/covid-19/) - [Featured Posts](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/featured-posts/) - [Founder's Corner](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/founders-corner/) - [Fundraising](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/fundraising/) - [General Autoimmune](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/general-autoimmune/) - [Immune System](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/immune-system/) - [Raising Hope](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/raising-hope/) - [Research](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/research/) - [Resources](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/resources/) - [Rheumatoid Disease](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/rheumatoid-disease/) - [Sin categorizar](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/sin-categorizar/) - [Uncategorized](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/uncategorized/) - [Young Adult Advisory Council](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/young-adult-advisory-council/) - ### ArchivesSelect Month/Year Month/Year October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 March 2023 January 2023 December 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 March 2022 February 2022 November 2021 August 2021 July 2021 April 2021 September 2020 April 2020 March 2020 November 2019 July 2019 February 2019 December 2018 August 2018 November 2017 March 2015 ## Related articles you might be interested in [![Autoimmune Association Image Do Not Touch](https://autoimmune.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/placeholder.jpg)](https://autoimmune.org/blog/step-therapy-prior-authorization/) ### [Policy Spotlight: Understanding Step Therapy and Prior Authorization](https://autoimmune.org/blog/step-therapy-prior-authorization/) October 6, 2026 [Advocacy](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/advocacy/) Sign up for the 2026 Autoimmune Community Summit If you have an autoimmune condition or simply want to learn more about autoimmunity, join... [Learn More](https://autoimmune.org/blog/step-therapy-prior-authorization/) [![Autoimmune Association Image Do Not Touch](https://autoimmune.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/placeholder.jpg)](https://autoimmune.org/blog/autoimmune-advocacy-capitol-hill-reform/) ### [Autoimmune Advocates Push for Health Insurance and Research Reform on Capitol Hill](https://autoimmune.org/blog/autoimmune-advocacy-capitol-hill-reform/) March 30, 2026 [Advocacy](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/advocacy/) People living with autoimmune disease often face significant barriers related to health insurance coverage, medication costs, and access to care. That’s why the... [Learn More](https://autoimmune.org/blog/autoimmune-advocacy-capitol-hill-reform/) [![Autoimmune Association Image Do Not Touch](https://autoimmune.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/placeholder.jpg)](https://autoimmune.org/blog/autoimmune-association-backs-pbm-reform-bill/) ### [Autoimmune Association Backs PBM Reform Bill](https://autoimmune.org/blog/autoimmune-association-backs-pbm-reform-bill/) December 10, 2025 [Advocacy](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/advocacy/) The Autoimmune Association Applauds Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID) and Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) for introducing the Pharmacy Benefit Manager... [Learn More](https://autoimmune.org/blog/autoimmune-association-backs-pbm-reform-bill/) [![Autoimmune Association Image Do Not Touch](https://autoimmune.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/placeholder.jpg)](https://autoimmune.org/blog/autoimmune-association-urges-federal-reform-of-340b-program-to-protect-patients/) ### [Autoimmune Association Urges Federal Reform of 340B Program to Protect Patients](https://autoimmune.org/blog/autoimmune-association-urges-federal-reform-of-340b-program-to-protect-patients/) October 23, 2025 [Advocacy](https://autoimmune.org/blog/category/advocacy/)   The Autoimmune Association welcomes the Senate HELP Committee’s hearing examining the growth and impact of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. For the... [Learn More](https://autoimmune.org/blog/autoimmune-association-urges-federal-reform-of-340b-program-to-protect-patients/) ## Find more resources on autoimmunity Learn more about autoimmunity, diagnosis tips, how to find a physician, and more. [Learn More](https://autoimmune.org/resource-center/) ```json {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@graph":[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org\/blog\/safe-step-act-reaches-218-cosponsors-in-the-house-of-representatives\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org","name":"Autoimmune Association"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org\/blog\/category\/advocacy\/","name":"Advocacy"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org\/blog\/safe-step-act-reaches-218-cosponsors-in-the-house-of-representatives\/","name":"Safe Step Act Reaches 218 Cosponsors in the House of Representatives"}}]}, {"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org\/blog\/safe-step-act-reaches-218-cosponsors-in-the-house-of-representatives\/#BlogPosting","url":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org\/blog\/safe-step-act-reaches-218-cosponsors-in-the-house-of-representatives\/","inLanguage":"en-US","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org\/blog\/safe-step-act-reaches-218-cosponsors-in-the-house-of-representatives\/","headline":"Safe Step Act Reaches 218 Cosponsors in the House of Representatives","description":"This week, the Safe Step Act reached a huge milestone as it gained 218 cosponsors in the House of Representatives. This milestone is significant","articleBody":"This week, the Safe Step Act reached a huge milestone as it gained 218 cosponsors in the House of Representatives. This milestone is significant because it shows that a majority of Members in the House support the issue and a bill with 218 co-sponsors is 6.5 times more likely to be enacted. The Safe Step Act (S. 652\/H.R. 2630) requires group health plan to provide an exception process for any medication step therapy protocol and respond to exemption requests within 72 hours, or 24 hours if a patient\u2019s life is at risk. The Autoimmune Association supports this bill because it implements a clear and transparent process for a patient or physician to request an exception to a step therapy protocol and outlines five exceptions to fail first protocols. Step therapy protocols ignore a patient\u2019s unique circumstances and medical history. Requiring a patient to go through step therapy can result in delayed access to the most effective treatment, severe side effects, and irreversible disease progression. What\u2019s Next? That Autoimmune Association, in partnership with the Safe Step Act Ad Hoc Coalition, are actively meeting with additional Members of Congress to garner additional support for the bill. We are also advocating for the inclusion of the Safe Step Act in the anticipated PBM Reform package, which will likely increase transparency in PBM pricing practices as well as put in protections for patients. If the bill can reach 290 cosponsors, it will be eligible for placement on the Consensus Calendar and to potentially be passed in an expediated process. Additional Resources For additional resources to understand how a bill becomes a law, please reference: \tAutoimmune Association \u2014 Advocacy 101 \tCongress.gov \u2013 How Our Laws Are Made Key Terms \tStep Therapy \u2014 Insurance company tactic that often requires patients to \u201cfail first\u201d on one or more drugs before getting the medicine that doctors originally prescribed. \tPharmacy Benefit Managers \u2014 Corporations that administer drug prescription plans for insurance companies; they manage high-cost specialty medication. They help to control what medications are available, which can potentially restrict access for patients.","datePublished":"2024-07-23T09:06:31-04:00","dateModified":"2024-07-23T09:06:31-04:00","author":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Autoimmune Association","url":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org\/about-us\/","sameAs":[],"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/70669a23ed731bc2425150828e604d97af2f2091c5569da962b68d3158801569?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"editor":{"@type":"Person","name":"Colleen Kmiecik","url":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org\/blog\/author\/colleen\/","sameAs":[],"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/70669a23ed731bc2425150828e604d97af2f2091c5569da962b68d3158801569?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Autoimmune Association","url":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org","logo":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/logo-horizontal.svg"}}, {"@type":"NGO","@id":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org\/#ngo","name":"Autoimmune Association","description":"The Autoimmune Association serves autoimmune patients through research, advocacy for healthcare access, and collaboration across autoimmune diseases. Founded in 1991 as the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association (AARDA), it now reaches over 60 countries.","url":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org","address":{"streetAddress":"19176 Hall Road, Suite 130","addressLocality":"Clinton Township","addressRegion":"MI","addressCountry":"US","postalCode":"48038"},"logo":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/logo-horizontal.svg","image":"https:\/\/autoimmune.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/logo-horizontal.svg","founder":"Virginia T. Ladd","foundingDate":"1991","knowsAbout":"Autoimmune disease, autoimmune research, patient advocacy","sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Autoimmunity","https:\/\/x.com\/AutoimmuneAssoc","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/autoimmuneassociation\/"],"contactPoint":{"@type":"ContactPoint","contactType":"customer service","telephone":"+15867763900","email":"hello@autoimmune.org"},"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","telephone":"+15867763900","email":"hello@autoimmune.org"}]} ```