H.R. 2630 · 118th Congress

Requires employer health plans to allow exceptions to step-therapy drug rules

Official title: Safe Step Act1

Never got a floor vote

§1What it does

Why this matters: A plain-English description of the bill as it was voted on, written by us from the official summary and text.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

This bill would require employer group health plans that use step therapy, which requires patients to try certain prescription drugs in a set order before the plan covers others, to offer a way for patients to request exceptions.2,3 Plans would have to grant an exception when, for example, the required drug has not worked, is expected not to work and delay would lead to irreversible consequences, is likely to cause an adverse reaction, would keep the patient from daily activities or work, or the patient is already stable on a drug.3 Plans would have to make the request process clear and readily available, and respond to requests within set deadlines.3

§2Status

StatusLatest action, April 13, 2023: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.1
IntroducedApril 13, 2023
SponsorRep. Wenstrup, Brad R. [R-OH-2]
Cosponsors235 cosponsors (154 Democratic, 81 Republican)
Official recordH.R. 2630 on Congress.gov

§3It never got a vote

Why this matters: This bill had wide support from both parties, but it never reached the House or Senate floor, so no member of Congress was ever recorded voting for or against it.

Latest action, April 13, 2023: Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.1 How bills die without a vote.

2026 candidates who sponsored or cosponsored it (158)