During March — Autoimmune Disease Awareness Month, “ADAM” – we are raising awareness about a harmful practice that hurts millions of Americans each and every day, known as step therapy.

Step therapy is not a therapy. Rather, it prevents patients from getting the right medicines at the right time. It is a misguided, unfair practice that requires patients to try and “fail first” on medicines and treatments prescribed by doctors before insurance company will help cover the cost of the medicine prescribed.

Step therapy puts patients health at risk, undermines doctors’ expertise, and causes significant financial waste in our health care system. What’s worse – this tactic harms those most in need of targeted medication and treatment, especially individuals with autoimmune diseases.

In May 2019, Autoimmune Association launched Let My Doctors Decide, a national partnership of leaders across health care working in support of a simple goal: treatment decisions should always be made by patients and trusted health care professionals, not insurance companies or pharmacy benefit managers.

This week, as part of our continuing effort to raise awareness about step therapy, Autoimmune Association launched a new Q&A series that features insightful dialogues with patients, advocates, providers, policymakers, researchers, and other subject matter experts. Our first interview features an extraordinary patient advocate. Click HERE to read Lee-Anna’s story as a patient that experienced harmful repercussions of step therapy, a nurse practitioner, and now, an advocate for step therapy reform. Lee-Anna offers advice for others, the importance of engagement, and the critical need for patients and providers to be heard. Your voice can make a difference! Sign our petition and endorse our Patient Principles. Visit the LMDD website for more information, resources, and patient stories.

Your voice can make a difference! Sign our petition and endorse our Patient Principles. Visit the LMDD website for more information, resources, and patient stories.